1. HN 300 Unit 7 Seminar Disability Policy Madelyn Harvey, PhD Human Service and Social Policy

2. CHAPTER 6 DISABILITY POLICY FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO CIVIL RIGHTS Slides developed by David H. Johnson Millersville University of Pennsylvania 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

3. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto A Fair Definition, A Fair Policy  Public policy typically uses binary definition, which fails to consider degree of disability  No consideration for individual’s self concept  Controversy over qualifications for benefits

4. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Public Assistance for the “Deserving Poor”  State programs pre-1935  Social Security Act included Aid to the Blind  Aid to Permanently and Totally Disabled added in 1950  Supplemental Security Income (SSI) enacted in 1972

5. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Federalized adult categorical assistance programs  Replaced three programs:  Old Age Assistance  Aid to the Blind  Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled

6. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Disability Determination  SSI Income and Asset Tests  Federal Definition of Disability is any physical or mental impairment which prevents an individual from engaging in any “substantial gainful activity ” (SGA).  SGA is defined by amount of earnings

7. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Appealing Decisions  Level 1: Reconsideration – different administrative team  Level 2: Administrative Law Judge hearing  Level 3: Appeals Council Review  Level 4: Civil suit in U.S. District Court

8. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto SSI Hot Spots  People with drug and alcohol problems  Legal Immigrants  Children and Older Adults  People who are homeless  Race

9. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Veterans Administration  Unlike SSI or SSDI, VA covers partial, permanent disability  Service-connected disability  Battlefield injuries  Disability incurred or aggravated while in service

10. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Disability and Work  Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)  Combined federal and state funds  States administer VR  State employment offices

11. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Removing Work Disincentives  Persons receiving benefits lose them if they work  Trial Work Period  Nine months of earnings over a 60 month period  Earnings of less than $720/ month (2010) after deducting work-related expenses

12. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS)  Allows SSI recipients to save money to attend school or for business startup costs  Money saved must be from income other than SSI  Money saved is disregarded in calculating SSI benefits

13. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Civil Rights for Individuals with Disabilities  Deinstitutionalization  Independent Living Movement  Independent Living Centers

14. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto A New Bill of Rights  Air Carrier Access Act of 1986  Architectural Barriers Act of 1968  Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Title V  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

15. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Disability Policy for Children  Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)  No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

16. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 7e DiNitto Discussion Questions  Discuss the controversy over the definition of disability.  What did we say were the differences between SSDI and SSI benefits?