Articles and Resources of Interest

• How Disability Beneficiaries Fared Before and After the Great Recession – Mathematica Center for Studying Disability Policy
• Social Determinants of Health – HealthyPeople.gov
• Disability Etiquette – Tips for Interacting with People with Disabilities – NDNRC
• New IRS Tool Can Help You Find a Tax Preparer – IRS.gov
• Ten Great Reasons to Visit IRS.gov – IRS.gov
• February is Heart Month – CDC.gov
• Researchers Identify 8 Signs of Impending Death – healthfinder.gov
• Health Tip: Get the Most from Exercise – healthfinder.gov
• Study: By Age 6, Some With Autism See Improvement – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Autism Speaks Putting New Focus On Adults – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Winter Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations – American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry

Legislative and Agency Corner

• White House Marks Passage Of ABLE Act – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Feds To Appeal Ruling On Caregiver Wage Protections – Disability Scoop, LLC
• Obama Budget Calls For Boost To Disability Programs – Disability Scoop, LLC
• HHS proposes path to improve health technology and transform care – HHS.gov
• Houses Passes Bill to Promote Charitable Giving – Committee on Ways and Means
• Affordable Care Act (ACA) Tax Provisions – IRS.gov

Webinars of Interest

• Stay informed and tune in to AHCA/NCAL-hosted pre-recorded and live webinars on a number of topics, including the Affordable Care Act, impacting the long term care profession. 
• AHCA/NCAL webinar:  Affordable Care Act: Clearing up the Confusion for Employers in 2015! – March 5, 2015 at 2:00 PM ET (60 minutes)
• AHCA/NCAL webinar:  What Employers Need to Know Regarding ACA Reporting and Tax Requirements – March 25, 2015 at 2:00 PM ET (60 minutes)

Personal Excellence: The BIG Decision Each Person Must Make

According to Dr. Bryan K. Williams, “No one can make you have enthusiasm.  Success, vitality, and achievement are all a direct result of it.  One of the most beautiful sights to behold is someone who is fully engaged in what they do and enthusiastic about their craft.”  “At the end of the day, however, enthusiasm is a personal choice.  Despite the best leadership practices and organizational standards, having a strong commitment comes down to each person making a personal decision about how exceptional they are going to be.”  The full blog version of the “Personal Excellence: The BIG Decision Each Person Must Make” article can be found here.  

Dr. Williams is a consultant, trainer, and author, who focuses on the areas of service excellence and organizational effectiveness.  He has spoken at numerous AHCA/NCAL events, and his passion is to serve others so they may better serve the world.  Here is a link where you can see some of Dr. Williams’ book recommendations on service, leadership and personal development.

National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities

The National Association of Sates United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) holds monthly calls concerning topics of interest to those who work in the field of aging and disability the first Thursday of every month at 3pm EST.  One of the past calls focused on resources for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and their caregivers.  Information about future calls, and audio recording of previous ones, can be found here.

Upcoming 2015 Events

• 2015 NCAL Spring Conference – March 9 – 11, 2015
• 2015 Independent Owner Leadership Conference – March 11 – 13, 2015
• 2015 ID/DD Hill Fly-In Event – March 24, 2015
• VOR’s Annual Conference – June 7, 2015
• VOR's Congressional Initiative – week of June 8, 2015 
• Global Summit on Innovations and Health in IDD – July 27-29, 2015

2015 Health Care Observances

The 2015 AHCA/NCAL Health Care Observances Calendar can be found here.  March marks, among other observances, National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Brain Injury Awareness Month.