Elder Law Prof Blog

Check out the Supremes' pending cases of significance to older Americans

AARP Foundation Litigation has released its annual U.S. Supreme Court Preview summarizing and analyzing cases important to people 50+ that have been granted or are pending certiorari in the 2012-13 term. The Preview is available on AFL’s web page at www.aarp.org/litigation.

Central States Law Schools Association 2012 Scholarship Conference will be held October 19 and 20, 2012, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Annual Scholarship Conference

October 19-20

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

The C.  We invite law faculty from across the country to submit proposals to present papers or works in progress.

            The purpose of CSLSA is to foster scholarly exchanges among law faculty across legal disciplines.  The annual CSLSA conference is a forum for legal scholars, especially more junior scholars, to present working papers or finished articles on any law-related topic in a relaxed and supportive setting where junior and senior scholars from various disciplines are available to comment.  More mature scholars have an opportunity to test new ideas in a less formal setting than is generally available for their work. 

To allow scheduling of the conference, please send an abstract of no more than 500 words to Secretary Missy Lonegrass at [email protected] by September 22, 2012.  Any late submissions will be considered on a space available basis only.   

For those who are interested, the CSLSA mentorship program pairs interested junior scholars with more senior mentors in their fields of expertise to provide feedback on their presentations or papers.  To participate in the mentorship program as either a mentor or mentee, please contact Vice-President Elizabeth Young at [email protected].

            In keeping with tradition, CSLSA is able to pay for one night’s lodging for presenters from member schools.  If a school is interested in joining CSLSA and has not received an invoice, please contact Treasurer Carolyn Dessin at [email protected].

     For more information about CSLSA, visit our website at http://cslsa.us/.

National Guardianship Association offers public benefits webinar aimed at guardians

Register for NGA’s Benefits Webinar Series 

NGA’s education committee is proud to announce another new webinar that focuses on the benefits received by many people under guardianship.

Guardians have many responsibilities, including

• determining if the person under guardianship is eligible for benefits
• applying for and managing benefits
• maintaining ongoing benefits
• assisting clients with applications

 

The Benefits Webinar will outline the guardian’s responsibilities

• outline the guardian’s responsibilities regarding benefits people under guardianship
• describe the differences between Medicare and Medicaid
• explain Medicaid benefits and types of coverage
• differentiate between the three general categories of Social Security benefits and the qualification criteria for each program
• review the different types of benefits available through the Veteran’s Administration system
• Summarize the application process for each benefit class

This single-session webinar course is scheduled for Thursday, November 1 at 1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (Noon, Central; 11:00 am, Mountain, and 10:00 am, Pacific).

The attached document contains more information and a registration form. The deadline to register is October 25 and space is limited to the first 30 registrants.

Download Benefits November 9-14-12

DOJ releases report on section 508 accessibility and federal digital info

The Justice Department announced the release of its report “Section 508 Report to the President and Congress: Accessibility of Federal Electronic and Information Technology.”  The report, authorized under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 794d), provides findings based on a survey of federal agencies on the accessibility of their electronic and information technology and the procedures used to implement the requirements of Section 508.

Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities, unless certain exceptions apply.  EIT includes telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, websites, multimedia, and office equipment, such as copiers and fax machines, computers, software, firmware and similar products and services.  Specifically, Section 508 requires federal agencies to ensure that EIT they develop, procure, maintain, or use allows employees with disabilities and members of the public seeking information or services to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that available to people who do not have disabilities. Section 508 also requires the attorney general to report and offer recommendations periodically to the President and Congress on the state of federal agency compliance with Section 508.

In 2010-2011, the Department created survey instruments and solicited answers from federal agencies about their implementation of Section 508. The survey requested data in four important areas:  procurement, general processes for implementing Section 508, administrative complaints and civil actions, and website compliance.

Register now for Stetson's annual Special Needs Conference

More info here. 

Shriver Center to host Webinar on state option to expand Medicaid

High Stakes for Legal Services Clients:
Concentrating Resources on
Convincing States to Adopt the New Medicaid Eligibility Category

Webinar hosted by Clearinghouse Review
October  9, 2012 
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. CDT
Register here.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) fills a gaping hole in the Medicaid program, offering eligibility to 16 million individuals with income below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, a life-changing positive development for all of them. But the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, as a practical matter, has caused states to view this new Medicaid eligibility as optional. They need to be convinced to do it.

Attorneys--and not just health care experts--are urgently needed to provide their expertise and voice during this critical time when states are choosing whether to add this new Medicaid eligibility category. Legal services managers should consider re-prioritizing program resources during this critical time.

To address these challenges, the Clearinghouse Review team of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law is hosting a webinar on October 9 at 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CST. Webinar attendees will gain an understanding of:

• The ACA’s new Medicaid eligibility category and the Supreme Court’s ruling on this provision;
• The enormous impact that filling this gap in Medicaid coverage can have on legal services clients--not just on their healthcare, but in many aspects of their lives and opportunities;
• Examples of practical advocacy strategies that legal services attorneys (in all types of programs) can engage in to ensure that their state implements this new Medicaid eligibility category; and
• Available resources to make this happen, including next steps.