When: This Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 6:00pm
What: Disability Rights North Carolina, a group that advocates for people with disabilities, holds a listening session to determine the needs of North Carolina's disabled, 2626 Glenwood Ave., Suite 500, Raleigh. Contact: Allison Breedlove, 919-856-2195.
We encourage people with disabilities and their families to attend this event. Disability Rights North Carolina needs input on your priorities and what our community requires from the new P&A.
2 comments:
Hello, my name is Tony and I came across your website searching for disability rights. I like your site and how it allows people to voice their opinions. I’m struggling right now with a major problem of trying to stay independent but it’s an up hill battle. Below is a letter that I’ve been sending out to many people so my tiny voice can or hopefully will become a roar for people like me who are forced to be institutionalized even though we can maintain a happy and healthy and safe life back in society. I want to get a job but at every turn I’m being told I can’t especially by the program that’s supposed to be helping me. I’d love to talk and get my story out maybe in hope that someone else may be going through something similar and I could encourage them. Thank you.
I am going through a very rough time right now in my life. I am a c-4 quadriplegic resulting from a diving accident back in 1993. I had stuck in nursing homes for roughly 13 of my 15 years being paralyzed. I recently got back out into my own apartment with the help of some wonderful friends. When I left this last nursing home I was placed on the CAP/DA program. Shortly after being on the program they meaning CAPS decided that they were going to drop my services. In that case I would be forced back into a nursing home where I have been constantly abused and neglected. I've lost both legs, received a permanently dislocated hip, lost my left kidney, had numerous unnecessary surgeries because of the blatant neglect and abuse. I went to my local appeal hearing but the lady that conducted the hearing already had her mind up. Going into the hearing it was all about safety concerns but during the hearing it was not really brought up as a factor because they realized there wasn't really much of a safety concern. So they changed and said well it's all about the budget now. Needless to say I am taking it all the way to a state hearing but there is no guarantee that I’ll win there. I have a wonderful support group on my side that wants me to stay which includes my private doctor, APS (adult protective services), and many friends. If CAPS drops me then I'm not sure where I’ll be sent. Mainly because after one nursing home kicked me out for complaining to the state about the abuses they put my name on the black list and no nursing home in NC is willing to take me. I'm young; I have a sharp mind and can speak up in support of myself and others. But apparently since my body is broke they feel i guess that i am not capable of making my own decisions. I sent this letter below to everyone i could think of from the president to my state representatives but no on seems to want to take a stand and help fight for me. Because I have a disability doesn't mean I don't have a voice. If I need to say it louder or to a group of congress men and women then so be it, but I want to be heard and be allowed to live in SOCIOTY not an INSTITUTION. Next is the letter that I sent to get my story out...Thank you for your time and attention.
My name is Anthony Combs, I am a C-4 quadriplegic resulting from a diving accident. I was 20 when I swung off a rope into the river and landed into two feet of water. Where the hole that was there for many years was filled with debris from floods over the winter, unbeknown to us. I have been stuck living in a nursing home for roughly 13 years. Mainly because there are no other services or housing that is available for the physically disabled. There are a lot of services and housing type places for the mentally disabled. Luckily I was able with the help of friends, find an apartment and receive services through the CAPS program, a Medicaid funded program and now, unfortunately only after being on the program for less than two months the program is dropping services on me. Now I may be required without options to return to a nursing home. The nursing homes that I have been in have been abusive. I've lost both legs, received a dislocated hip, lost my left kidney, been slapped by a nurse and even had my porta-cath collapsed due to negligence. I do not want to be placed back into an institution because I feel I will die. I would much rather live on my own with caretakers coming in to take care of me and be able to eat what I want, come and go as I please and have a better life without fear of being abused or neglected. I am 35 years old; I have a sharp mind, a voice and I know how to assert my rights. There are no nursing homes that are willing to take me here in North Carolina now especially after Britthaven nursing home illegally/legally kicked me out and placed my name on a black list. I am hoping that there can be something put in place that will assist people such as me to live on their own and enjoy life rather than being forced to live in nursing home without the hopes of ever returning back into society. I want to get a job and so forth but without programs to help assist us to maintain independence we will fall short of our or at least my goal. I have been trying to get into my own place and become a productive member of society for a while but now that the CAP program refuses to assist me anymore I am stuck without any help. My CAP worker Van Hopper and his supervisors will not help me anymore because they are stating safety concerns. There weren’t any problems from the start but now they are changing their minds. When the CAP case worker came to do their home assessment they asked who would be staying with me. Myself and my mom told them that no one would be except for the CNA’s that come in to get me up, fed and set for the day and the CNA’s that come at night to feed me and put me to bed.. They told me that they will get Life Line in place for me and included it into my CAP budget. I still have not received Life Line, it hasn't been put in place so the CAP program is the ones who are dropping the ball and putting me at what they consider risk or unsafe environment. I have done very well so far without any problems. I was even featured on the news, channel News 14. Here’s the link to my story that was played on the air, he did get a few facts mixed up though. http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=596210
I've only been on the program since April 24th of 2008 but am now headed back into a nursing facility probably because they, the CAPS program, are dropping me and refuse to help anymore. If there is anything you can do I would greatly appreciate it. I want to live on my own and be a real citizen and get a job and contribute back into the social security system instead of taking as well. I wished that there was some way to bring to everyone’s attention to people such as me. Not everyone who is disabled belongs in a nursing home. I have a core group of wonderful friends who I consider family that love and help support me in this decision of living on my own. I am young and do not; I repeat DO NOT want to live out the rest days of days in a nursing home. I have lived on my own before for two years and did fine with no problems. I have more to offer. Now only because CAPS won't support my effort and are dropping me as of June 30th, but, with an appeal hopefully being filed before then, I have almost no choice in the matter but return to somewhere I hate. They are now citing “safety issues” and “liability issues”. My core support group and I are willing to sign any liability waiver to relieve CAPS from any liability should anything happen to me while on my own. I had rather die happy and on my own if it should happen than to die from abuse and neglect in nursing homes. If anyone can give me assistance to help me stay independent and out of the nursing homes will be greatly appreciated. Keep me in your prayers, God Bless.
Tony Combs
www.myspace.com/aspinalstreak
Tony Combs
www.myspace.com/aspinalstreak
Hello, my name is Tony and I came across your website searching for disability rights. I like your site and how it allows people to voice their opinions. I’m struggling right now with a major problem of trying to stay independent but it’s an up hill battle. Below is a letter that I’ve been sending out to many people so my tiny voice can or hopefully will become a roar for people like me who are forced to be institutionalized even though we can maintain a happy and healthy and safe life back in society. I want to get a job but at every turn I’m being told I can’t especially by the program that’s supposed to be helping me. I’d love to talk and get my story out maybe in hope that someone else may be going through something similar and I could encourage them. Thank you.
I am going through a very rough time right now in my life. I am a c-4 quadriplegic resulting from a diving accident back in 1993. I had stuck in nursing homes for roughly 13 of my 15 years being paralyzed. I recently got back out into my own apartment with the help of some wonderful friends. When I left this last nursing home I was placed on the CAP/DA program. Shortly after being on the program they meaning CAPS decided that they were going to drop my services. In that case I would be forced back into a nursing home where I have been constantly abused and neglected. I've lost both legs, received a permanently dislocated hip, lost my left kidney, had numerous unnecessary surgeries because of the blatant neglect and abuse. I went to my local appeal hearing but the lady that conducted the hearing already had her mind up. Going into the hearing it was all about safety concerns but during the hearing it was not really brought up as a factor because they realized there wasn't really much of a safety concern. So they changed and said well it's all about the budget now. Needless to say I am taking it all the way to a state hearing but there is no guarantee that I’ll win there. I have a wonderful support group on my side that wants me to stay which includes my private doctor, APS (adult protective services), and many friends. If CAPS drops me then I'm not sure where I’ll be sent. Mainly because after one nursing home kicked me out for complaining to the state about the abuses they put my name on the black list and no nursing home in NC is willing to take me. I'm young; I have a sharp mind and can speak up in support of myself and others. But apparently since my body is broke they feel i guess that i am not capable of making my own decisions. I sent this letter below to everyone i could think of from the president to my state representatives but no on seems to want to take a stand and help fight for me. Because I have a disability doesn't mean I don't have a voice. If I need to say it louder or to a group of congress men and women then so be it, but I want to be heard and be allowed to live in SOCIOTY not an INSTITUTION. Next is the letter that I sent to get my story out...Thank you for your time and attention.
My name is Anthony Combs, I am a C-4 quadriplegic resulting from a diving accident. I was 20 when I swung off a rope into the river and landed into two feet of water. Where the hole that was there for many years was filled with debris from floods over the winter, unbeknown to us. I have been stuck living in a nursing home for roughly 13 years. Mainly because there are no other services or housing that is available for the physically disabled. There are a lot of services and housing type places for the mentally disabled. Luckily I was able with the help of friends, find an apartment and receive services through the CAPS program, a Medicaid funded program and now, unfortunately only after being on the program for less than two months the program is dropping services on me. Now I may be required without options to return to a nursing home. The nursing homes that I have been in have been abusive. I've lost both legs, received a dislocated hip, lost my left kidney, been slapped by a nurse and even had my porta-cath collapsed due to negligence. I do not want to be placed back into an institution because I feel I will die. I would much rather live on my own with caretakers coming in to take care of me and be able to eat what I want, come and go as I please and have a better life without fear of being abused or neglected. I am 35 years old; I have a sharp mind, a voice and I know how to assert my rights. There are no nursing homes that are willing to take me here in North Carolina now especially after Britthaven nursing home illegally/legally kicked me out and placed my name on a black list. I am hoping that there can be something put in place that will assist people such as me to live on their own and enjoy life rather than being forced to live in nursing home without the hopes of ever returning back into society. I want to get a job and so forth but without programs to help assist us to maintain independence we will fall short of our or at least my goal. I have been trying to get into my own place and become a productive member of society for a while but now that the CAP program refuses to assist me anymore I am stuck without any help. My CAP worker Van Hopper and his supervisors will not help me anymore because they are stating safety concerns. There weren’t any problems from the start but now they are changing their minds. When the CAP case worker came to do their home assessment they asked who would be staying with me. Myself and my mom told them that no one would be except for the CNA’s that come in to get me up, fed and set for the day and the CNA’s that come at night to feed me and put me to bed.. They told me that they will get Life Line in place for me and included it into my CAP budget. I still have not received Life Line, it hasn't been put in place so the CAP program is the ones who are dropping the ball and putting me at what they consider risk or unsafe environment. I have done very well so far without any problems. I was even featured on the news, channel News 14. Here’s the link to my story that was played on the air, he did get a few facts mixed up though. http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=596210
I've only been on the program since April 24th of 2008 but am now headed back into a nursing facility probably because they, the CAPS program, are dropping me and refuse to help anymore. If there is anything you can do I would greatly appreciate it. I want to live on my own and be a real citizen and get a job and contribute back into the social security system instead of taking as well. I wished that there was some way to bring to everyone’s attention to people such as me. Not everyone who is disabled belongs in a nursing home. I have a core group of wonderful friends who I consider family that love and help support me in this decision of living on my own. I am young and do not; I repeat DO NOT want to live out the rest days of days in a nursing home. I have lived on my own before for two years and did fine with no problems. I have more to offer. Now only because CAPS won't support my effort and are dropping me as of June 30th, but, with an appeal hopefully being filed before then, I have almost no choice in the matter but return to somewhere I hate. They are now citing “safety issues” and “liability issues”. My core support group and I are willing to sign any liability waiver to relieve CAPS from any liability should anything happen to me while on my own. I had rather die happy and on my own if it should happen than to die from abuse and neglect in nursing homes. If anyone can give me assistance to help me stay independent and out of the nursing homes will be greatly appreciated. Keep me in your prayers, God Bless.
Tony Combs
www.myspace.com/aspinalstreak
Tony Combs
www.myspace.com/aspinalstreak
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