Deposit Limits for ABLE Accounts Raised to $16,000

Beginning January 2022, the IRS raised the annual limit of allowable deposits into ABLE accounts from $15,000 to $16,000. This means people with disabilities who have ABLE accounts can now save more money without losing government benefits such as Social Security and Medicaid. ABLE accounts are savings accounts for people with disabilities created by the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act in 2014. The savings can be used tax-free for disability-related expenses.

Find out more information about the limit increase at the Disability Scoop’s news article.

For more information about ABLE accounts, visit the ABLE National Resource Center.

A Vaccine Cheat Sheet and More COVID-19 Resources

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) has summarized the latest CDC guidance on vaccines and boosters as of January 12, 2022. The update includes a page on vaccine resources for people with disabilities. HDC’s mission is to educate the public and provide timely information, and this information should in no way be construed as taking a stance for or against vaccines in any given situation.

About the Administration for Community Living

The Administration for Community Living was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities.

By funding services and supports provided primarily by networks of community-based organizations, and with investments in research, education, and innovation, ACL helps make this principle a reality for millions of Americans.

Alumni Alert: Louisiana LEND scholars present capstone at ASHA 2021

2020-2021 Louisiana LEND alumni Sloane Henry, B.S., Lillian Patton , MCD, CF-SLP , and Alix Moody, B.S. present capstone that supports interdisciplinary training at the 2021 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention. Titled “An Interdisciplinary Peer-led Educational Intervention to Improve Physician Assistant Student Knowledge of Speech-Language-Hearing Developmental Milestones,” the LEND scholars’ presentation is supported by LSUHSC Assistant Professors and Louisiana LEND faculty Leslie C. Lopez, Ph.D., CCC/SLP and Megan R. Guidry, Au.D., CCC-A.

Alumni alert: Louisiana LEND scholars working at Families Helping Families of Acadiana

Families Helping Families of Acadiana (FHFOA) recently recognized its staff for their appointments to various boards, task forces, or committees and the completion of programs dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities and special health care needs. HDC was proud to see two familiar faces in this group: current Louisiana LEND scholar Kristie Curtis and Louisiana LEND alum Nicole DeJean. Click this link to read the original FHFOA newsletter.

Orleans Parish School Guides for Parents

At the start of the school year, NOLA Public Schools posted three guides for parents of children with special health care needs on programs, resources, and transitions services for their children. HDC was made aware of the guides through an interview aired on WWNO the morning of December 20th with Jennifer Coco, Local Policy Manager for the Center for Learner Equity. The guide is also mentioned in Jennifer Coco’s open letter to the Advocate on December 9th, 2021.

About NOLA Public Schools

We are a community of public schools devoted to educating and preparing all our students to thrive in life. For 180 years, public education in New Orleans has been a part of this vibrant and multicultural city’s complicated history.

Testimonial: “I am grateful for the collaboration with HDC’s LASARD project, district leadership, and BUES educators.”

From Paige Phillips, Principal at Brusly Upper Elementary School:

HDC’s LASARD project extends reach across Louisiana

This article was written in collaboration with HDC’s K-12 Initiatives Director Julie Riley, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, and HDC Director Philip Wilson, Ph.D.

Human Development Center’s Louisiana Autism Spectrum and Related Disabilities (LASARD) project has nearly tripled the number of school districts it collaborates with over the past two-years; going from about 10 districts to over 25 school systems across the state this 2021-22 school year. The HDC LASARD project is proud to serve “traditional” districts and charter systems from Webster and Morehouse in the northern part of the state, to Concordia in the east, to Jeff Davis in the southwest, and to Tangipahoa and ReNEW charters in the southeast.

2021-22 Early Head Start seats available

Greetings from LSUHSC Early Head Start Child Care Partnership! We are a federally funded program that helps families of children ages birth to three (3) years old prepare for school and promote children’s development. As we continue to prepare for the current 2021-2022 school year, seats are available at our Early Head Start partner sites. Click the button below to apply and scroll down to see the required documents for application.

Cedric Richmond Speaks at AUCD 2021 Conference Opening Plenary

Cedric Richmond, Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden and a former Louisiana Representative from the Second Congressional District, spoke at the AUCD 2021 Virtual Conference Opening Plenary on Monday, November 15, 2021. While HDC does not advocate for specific policies, we believe residents of Louisiana have the right to educate themselves on key issues facing the disability community. The plenary, with all its speakers, has been posted on YouTube by AUCD and will remain public until January 31, 2022.

HDC Spotlight: Ali Kowitz, M.Ed., ET/P

Ms. Ali Kowitz recently joined the staff of HDC’s K-12 Educational Initiatives as an educational facilitator.  Ali coaches special educators and regular education teachers to better serve students, including those with disabilities in several school districts across South Louisiana (i.e., Iberville, East Baton Rouge, ReNEW-New Orleans, and Belle Chasse Academy). According to Ms. Julie Riley, HDC’s K-12 Education Initiatives director, “Ali may have only been in this role for three-months, but her expertise in instructional strategies and transition has added greatly to our team.” In fact, Ali has already developed professional development materials focusing on instructional strategies and accommodations/modifications to assist students with disabilities function within school-wide and classroom norms. Happily, these strategies work for students of all abilities!