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ETB 37 – In this episode I talk with Fredia Bassham, grandmother of Heather Jo, age 26.  Freida and her husband Joe have been caring for their granddaughter who has cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder and is non-verbal, for 22 years.

Heather Jo recently won Texas Miss Amazing, the Miss Division.  The Texas Miss Amazing pageant celebrates the abilities of girls and women across TEXAS with disabilities.  providing opportunities for them  to build self-esteem.  The Miss Amazing pageant creators believe options to girls with disabilities should reflect their boundless potential.  At the end of July, Heather Jo  will be going to Nationals.

Freida shares an option  for finding special needs caregivers some may not have considered.  The Nextdoor app has been a successful avenue for locating ideal candidates to step in and provide quality care.   Not only was Freida able to find a great caregiver who lives just one street over, but she also was able to help a neighbor find care for her son who has autism.

Miss Amazing
https://missamazing.org/

Nextdoor
https://nextdoor.com/

Connect with Sandy
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/

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ETB 24: In this episode I talk with Heather Burdeaux, a former guest from episode ETB 4 Paying Attention to Behavior Changes, Expectation Management & Maintaining Friendships.

As a  case manager Heather shares about Community First Choice (CFC), a program in Texas that provides certain services and supports to individuals living in the community who are enrolled in the Medicaid program and meet CFC eligibility requirements. Services and supports may include:

  • activities of daily living (eating, toileting, and grooming), activities related to living independently in the community, and health-related tasks (personal assistance services);
  • acquisition, maintenance, and enhancement of skills necessary for the individuals to care for themselves and to live independently in the community (habilitation);
  • providing a backup system or ways to ensure continuity of services and supports (emergency response services); and
  • training people how to select, manage and dismiss their own attendants (support management).

Medicaid Buy In for Children: https://texasmedicaidwaivers.com/medicaid/medicaid-buy-in-programs/medicaid-buy-in-for-children/

Community First Choice: https://texasmedicaidwaivers.com/medicaid/benefits-of-medicaid/community-first-choice/

CLASS Form 3596 PAS/Habilitation Plan: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/handbooks/community-living-assistance-support-services-provider-manual/forms

HCS Form 8510 HCS/TxHmL CFC PAS/HAB Assessment: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/handbooks/home-community-based-services-handbook/forms

Paths to Medicaid: https://texasmedicaidwaivers.com/medicaid/

Disability Rights Texas: https://www.disabilityrightstx.org/en/home/

Connect with Heather
Heather Burdeaux: heatherburdeaux@gmail.com

Connect with Sandy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandydeppisch
Embrace the Blessing Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/ETB4ME
Website: http://www.embracetheblessing.com/