Friends of Fircrest is a volunteer 501(C)(3), non-profit

organization advocating for the right to quality living and

care choices for all citizens with developmental disabilities

Fall 2017 Founded by parents and advocates. Incorporated in 1978

On a cool July morning a parade moved through campus, winding along the main streets in front of the homes of some 200 residents. This year’s theme was super heroes. Along with Superman, Spi-derman and others, were the ever-present Seafair Pirates. Residents and family lined the sidewalks for the long parade. Marching bands played, horsemen performed, clowns laughed and every one applauded the fun. After the parade barbeques

were held on the patios. This event required the cooperation of many individuals and organizations, all of whom are most appreciated and thanked.

Just after 9 a.m. July 20th firefighters were called to what was reported as a dryer fire, but the flames got out of control and spread to the walls. The entire building was consumed. Dur-ing the fire residents were moved to a safe location. The fire poses no long-term danger and asbestos was not present in the building. “We are working to reim-burse for lost clothing”, said Megan DeSmet, Superintendent of Fircrest School. In the meantime, laundry is being sent to the Rainier School. DeS-met further said that laundry replace-ment options are being studied, the

results of which should be ready be-fore November of next year. Clothing to be marked should be delivered to Bldg. 59, Birch Hall. Sign the clothing in with Seam-stress Hieu.

Friends of Fircrest President Jim Hardman Passes

July 24, 2017—Jim Hardman, 67, passed away unex-pectedly the night after he and his wife Laura moved into their new home.

Fircrest laundry Reduced to Ashes in Mid-morning Blaze

Photo compliments of KIRO 7 ©

Funfest Excites Entire Campus

J im was president of Friends of Fircrest for many years. He also served on the Board of Directors of Friends of Rainier, was an active and supporting

member of Action DD and a certified professional guardi-an for several residents of both Fircrest School and Raini-er School. This, in addition to his law practice. When res-idents of Fircrest or other RHCs needed protection Jim was always there. A celebration of his life was held in the Fircrest coffee shop July 19th. Over one-hundred–forty family, friends, colleagues and others shared memories.

His full obituary can be read at the following website: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?pid=186302964

Officers: Acting president: Paul Strand Vice President: Kent Questad, Ph.D. Secretary: Gordon Ellison-Oslin Treasurer: Tom Norton

Directors: Terri Anderson Candace B. Braley Saskia Davis, RN Gordon Ellison-Oslin Leone McMullin Liz Patterson Launi Whedon

Emeritus: Dot Brenchley, Jo Bousman, Betty Cantrell, RN, BSN Ruth Durkan Alice Hardman, MSW, C.P.G. Jim Hardman, J.D., C.P.G

Jean Huntley, Phil Scheier

Advisory: Michael Johnson J.D.,C.P.G. Maria Walsh, Janet Way Editor: Paul Strand pstrand2020@comcast.net

Board/Membership Meeting Dates 2017

October 14,

November 11-Annual Meeting and elections

No meetings in December

You are always

Welcome to

Join us.

All meetings, Board and Membership, unless otherwise notified, are held on

Saturdays at 1pm in the Staff Training room of the ATP (Adult Training Pro-

gram) Building 88 N.E. corner Fircrest Campus.

All are welcome to any of the FoF meetings.

Home Unit Representatives:

Third Tuesday of the month at 1 PM

Fircrest, Admin Bldg. Baker or Cascade Room.

Ad Hoc Meetings:

Called as needed. Locations vary

Emergency/Conference meetings called by board member requests.

FRIENDS OF FIRCREST REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE 2017

Fall 2017

Each residence now has one Habilita-tion Plan Administrator (HPA) This staff helps ensure compliance with federal requirements. A new Capital Works employ-ee, Larry Covey, joined staff. He will be responsible for the master plan. - 2 new RN3s for supervisory posi- tions. - 1 new occupational therapist to re- place a retiree. - 2 new psychiatrists. - 1 new psychologist. - 1 new medical doctor part-time. - 2 new recreational therapists on PAT N. - 1 returning recreational therapist to PAT A.

Who’s gone?

Bob Colley, recreational specialist Laura Squires, speech therapist

I nteract is a quality control re-porting mechanism that allows consistent documentation of

changes by staff to nursing. This will unify change reporting across the en-tire RHC community. The result is

better service for residents of Fircrest. Staff received their training for this in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The system will be in place later this year.

T he capital budget is a prioritized list of capital improvement pro-jects, adopted by the legislature

along with the operating budget for the next fiscal year. Our legislature left Olympia without approving a capi-tal budget for this biennium. That means there is no money approved for building and repair work. Conse-quently, all construction has stopped at Fircrest until money is made availa-ble through the passage of a capital budget. Projects running on last bien-nium money included the new paint on the houses, some arbor work and other projects. When the budget is approved the buildings on the corner of 15th and 145th will be removed. The cost of this project is about $500,000. The project has already started but needs $250,000 more from the capital budget to finish up. Also awaiting money are new electri-cal grids . More projects are planned. Since the recession is behind us we can expect more upgrades at Fircrest School.

Two SOLAs are planned for the Seattle area. One in the North and one in the South.

Fircrest Staff Changes

Interact Program Comes to Fircrest

No Capital Budget Ends Construction

Superintendent Megan DeSmet attends our meetings and can answer your questions

DSHS Plans More SOLAs

Funfest clown in old truck Reminiscent of J.P. Patches

Fall 2017 PAGE 3

S aturday May 20, Members of the WFSCME (Washington State Federation of State Employees,

Council 28) gathered in force at the main entrance to Fircrest School in Shoreline. They were joined by mem-

bers of the SEIU service workers union and several parents, families, and members of Friends of Fircrest and Action DD. There were others as well. It was a beautiful day for the occa-sion. The intersection of 15th Avenue and 155th Street was packed with sign wavers, chanters and well wish-ers. Car horns and bull horns sounded almost nonstop for over two hours. The message was, "Save Fircrest." Certain legislators are attempting to close Fircrest. Their ma-neuvers have left the legislature divid-ed on the future of Fircrest, home to over 200 people who are among our state's most afflicted with develop-mental disabilities. Senator Maralyn Chase gave a hope-ful address to the crowd in favor of Fircrest. Representative Cindy Ryu also spoke in support, and the City of Shoreline mayor, Chris Roberts, told everyone that his city wants to keep Fircrest.

I ndividuals who qualify for Inter-mediate Care Facilities for those with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/

IID) under Medicaid have a legal right to such facilities for as long as they remain eligible and choose to do so. Despite a deinstitutionaliza-tion efforts by those opposed to con-gregate care, the ICF/IID program re-

mains a legally enforceable federal entitlement under Medicaid. States which have included ICF/IID in their Medicaid State Plans, but instead offer only Waiver services, are in violation of federal Medicaid law. One’s right to ICF/IID services is legally enforceable: Participation by states in the Medicaid program is vol-untary; however, once a state elects to provide services, the state's provi-sion of those services is “mandatory upon them.” 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(1). If a state elects in its Medicaid State Plan to offer qualified individuals services in an ICF/IID, it must provide that “all individuals wishing to make application under the plan shall have the opportunity to do so, and that such assistance shall be furnished with reasonable promptness to all eligible individuals.” 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(8). The right to ICF/IID services has been tested in Federal District and Appellate Courts in Florida. In Doe v. Chiles, 136 F.3d 709 (1998) the State of Florida argued that ICF/IID services are an optional Medicaid program. The 11th Circuit rejected the argu-ment, noting that “even when a state elects to provide an optional service, that service becomes part of the state Medicaid plan and is subject to the requirements of federal law.” The 11th Circuit found, “We hold that the appellees have a federal right to reasonably prompt provision of assistance under section 1396a(a)(8) of the Medicaid Act, and that this right is enforceable under section 1983.” ICF/IID as an enforceable right under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was also acknowledged (although not actually ruled upon) in the Federal District Court and 7th Circuit decisions in Bertrand v. Maram, (2006, 2007). The Home and Community Based Waiver is optional, not mandatory, and cannot be imposed on an individ-ual who qualifies for and chooses an ICF/IID. In fact, the HCBS waiver will not be granted and may be revoked unless the state offers ICF/IID services to those who qualify. The Medicaid Act provides that the Home and Community Based Service waiver “shall not be grant-ed” to states unless the state provides satisfactory assurances that “such in-dividuals who are determined to be likely to require the level of care pro-vided in a hospital, nursing facility or intermediate care facility for the men-tally retarded are informed of the fea-

sible alternatives, if available under the waiver, at the choice of such indi-viduals, to the provision of inpatient hospital, nursing facility services or services in an intermediate care facili-ty for the mentally retarded.” 42 U.S.C. § 1396n(c)(2)(C). CMS Regulations imple-menting this law stipulate that “CMS will not grant a waiver...and may ter-minate a waiver already granted” un-less a state provides cer-tain “satisfactory assuranc-es” including assurances that “the re-cipient or his or her legal representa-tive will be: 1) Informed of any feasible alterna-tives available under the waiver, and 2) Given the choice of either institu-tional or home and community-based services.” 42 C.F.R. § 441.302(d). The same right was affirmed – not struck down – by the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. “Nothing in the ADA…condones termi-nation of institutional settings for per-sons unable to handle or benefit from community settings…Nor is there any federal requirement that community-based treatment be imposed on pa-tients who do not desire it.” Olmstead v L.C. 527 U.S. 581, 601-02 (1999)

Union Rallied to Save Fircrest

Your Legal Right to an Intermediate

Care Facility Condensed from an article in VOR.net

Funfest

L ongtime member of Friends of Fircrest, and advocate for peo-ple with disabilities, Elizabeth

(Betty) Stehly Cantrell passed May 4, 2017.

She was born in Elgin, Nebraska, December 24, 1928 and died at 88 in Seattle. She attended the University

of Nebraska from 1946-1948, gradu-ating from Johns Hopkins School of Nurs-ing in 1951. She met the love of her life, James Randall Cantrell, in the operating room at Johns Hopkins. They

were married in 1954. Independent, strong, invincible,

and tenacious, she had an energy and passion for life and everything she did. Betty was always game to try new things, be it playing Cards Against Humanity, getting tattoos, becoming a gym rat with a personal trainer well into her late 80's or marching for the Nuns at St. James Cathedral. She was accepting of change and enjoyed the challenge of seeing things, people and situations in new ways. She delighted in her own sense of humor and was con-stantly amazed that other people did-n't get her jokes. She had a remarka-ble ability to create meaningful con-nections with total strangers within a very short period of time. One of her ongoing goals was to engage some-one who was otherwise appearing grumpy. Her interest in all people was ever present, she loved everyone and everyone loved her. She was the life of every party she attended!

Betty loved and shone in many aspects of her life; mom to five kids, “Grami B” to five grandkids, mother-in-law to Tia, her tireless advocacy for her cousin, Patty Krause and the de-velopmentally disabled community, traveling, birding, learning about new subjects including herself, and deep-ening her faith and admiration for her faith community.

Betty is survived by her sister, Alice Sweeney, her brother, Robert Stehly, her kids, Randy Cantrell, Beth Cantrell, Martha Cantrell, Jane Cantrell Caron, Roy Cantrell, and her grandkids, Maddie and Robbie Caron, Sam, Joe and Timmy .

A proposed ban on paying work-ers with disabilities less than minimum wage could take

effect as soon as next month, but some worry the change would have unintended consequences for the people it’s trying to help. Employers are allowed to pay subminimum wages through the use of special certificates in Seattle and in Washington state and elsewhere across the country. Supporters of the change say this is blatantly discrimi-natory and out of line with federal laws protecting the rights of workers with disabilities. Currently, just eight Seattlei-tes make less than minimum wage under the city’s ordinance. But mem-bers of the Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities, the group calling for the change, say they’re going after the state certificates next. That could affect 705 more workers — some earning just a few dollars an hour. The Northwest Center — which was singled out for paying sub-minimum wages, says the matter isn’t that simple. Forbidding subminimum wag-es, the center argues, could cost those workers more in the long run, putting other medical and financial benefits at risk and forcing cuts to their work hours. Christy Wicklander, a mother and legal guardian to two Seattle workers making subminimum wages, says they are in an ideal situation — gaining experience and self-esteem at work rather than sitting at home. “Inclusion, in theory, works very nice-ly,” she said. “But practically, you have to be very careful.” Some City Councilmembers and Office of Labor Standards Direc-tor Dylan Orr all support the ordi-nance change. If the Office of Labor Stand-ards agrees, new city certificates will not be issued past September. The City Council will also vote in Septem-ber on abolishing the certificates from city use at all. How it works As a way to preserve jobs for people less traditionally productive

than a typical worker, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries grants certificates to employers look-ing to hire workers with disabilities at subminimum wages. (Seattle, which has a higher minimum wage than the state’s, issues its own certificates to employers in the city.) While many people with disa-bilities work for minimum wage or higher, special certificates allow for the number of hours worked each week, a prevailing average wage and an employee’s productivity to deter-mine what the employee makes each hour. Productivity is often meas-ured in a “time/motion study” of how much a worker can accomplish during one hour of work. For example, if an average worker loads 100 boxes in an hour, but the worker being tested loads 15, that worker could be as-signed a wage that is 15 percent of the average worker’s, or $2.25 an hour, rather than Seattle’s $15 mini-mum wage. This debate is not new to Emily Miller, human-resources man-ager at the Northwest Center. The reality, she said, if this change hap-pens, many of these workers will see hours significantly reduced or lose their jobs altogether.” “Yes, most of them would like to be paid higher,” Miller said. “But the end goal is not to be sitting at home, alone. I think that gets lost in this discussion.”

W e meet the second Saturday of the month at 1 p.m. for two hours. This usually in-

cludes a guest speaker and always includes a great snack buffet. Meetings will be held in the ATP building (88). Our fall meetings are, October 14th and November 11th. We will not meet in December.

Fall 2017 PAGE 4

Betty Cantrell Passes

Family Friendly Meeting Times for Friends of Fircrest

Seattle would Ban Subminimum Wage for Developmentally

Disabled Condensed from the Seattle Times

Fall 2017 PAGE 5

M embership in Friends of Fircrest is essential. Thank you for joining, renewing, or donating to FOF, a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organiza-

tion. Your support provides what this issue highlights and much more. Your membership advances FOF's advocacy for high quality care and human rights for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Please ask others in your family and among your friends and associates to join or donate. It’s easy and so neces-sary.

Become a Member of The Board of Directors

There are two openings on the Friends of Fircrest Board of Directors. The total number is twelve. This is your op-portunity to contribute. Directors take great satisfaction in bettering the lives of residents of Fircrest School. Have Questions? Contact Paul Strand at (360) 556-1213 or email: pstrand2020@comcast.net

Friends of Fircrest 2018 Membership and Donation Form

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Questions? Contact Candace at 206 527 1125 or cbbraley@q.com

Thank you for mailing this form with your dues /donations and comments to:

Friends of Fircrest , c/o Fircrest School RHC, 15230 15th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

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Save the Date: .

• October 14 — 1 p.m.

• November 11 - Elections, 1 p.m.

See full meeting schedule at FriendsofFircrest.org

Reminder: All FOF meetings are now combined Board and Membership meetings monthly as sched-

Friends of Fircrest Newsletter Fall 2017 Issue

Friends of Fircrest Mission Statement

Friends of Fircrest is a volunteer 501(C)(3), non-profit organization advocating for the right

to quality living and care choices for all citizens with developmental disabilities (ID/DD)

Fircrest Residents, in the Adult Training Program, earn wages for preparing this newsletter for mailing.

c/o Fircrest School, RHC 15230 15th. Ave. N. E. Shoreline, WA 98155