Emily F. Keller: Journalist

The New Verse News Publishes "Tremors"

After the earthquake in Japan, I wrote a poem reflecting on the experience of human disasters in the US and abroad called "Tremors." The poem was published in The New Verse News on April 21, 2011. You can read the poem here.

New York Governor Proposes Cuts to Housing Services

    New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has released a 2011-12 Executive Budget that includes reductions to housing services for people with disabilities.

    The budget aims to eliminate a $10 billion state deficit and create long-term savings without raising taxes. It calls for reductions to internal government processes, the consolidation and merging of 11 agencies and a $1 billion reduction in Medicaid spending.

Medicaid Redesign Team Reports Suggestions

    A state task force of medical and hospital officials charged with identifying potential cuts to the Medicaid system has come up with 79 suggestions to reduce the cost of the program.

    The team has recommended a two percent rate cut to Medicaid providers, the construction of service networks and health homes for people with ongoing medical conditions and a transition to managed care that would include managed behavioral health care coordination for people with serious mental health and substance use conditions. Critics expressed concern that this would apply to home care services but would not include nursing homes.

President Obama Releases 2012 Disability Budget

    President Barack Obama has released a disability budget for fiscal year 2012 titled “Winning the Future for People with Disabilities.”

    Some disability funding streams would increase or remain the same under the proposal. The budget calls for a $200 million increase in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state grants and a $50 million increase for the IDEA Infants and Families Program.

Governor Proposes Changes to Schools for Children with Disabilities

    New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed a funding change for schools that serve children with disabilities.

    The governor’s Executive Budget for fiscal year 2011-12, which begins April 1, calls for the elimination of direct state funding to schools for children who are deaf, blind and physically challenged. The proposal would shift the $100 million cost of 11 specialized schools from the state to local school districts, creating an unfunded mandate for the districts that refer children to those schools to come up with the funds themselves.

New Bills Offer Support to the Mobility Vehicle Industry

    The New York State Assembly and Senate are reviewing bills to promote greater independence for mobility vehicle dealers who display modified vehicles on their lots.

    The bills come in response to the recent shutdowns of mobility vehicle dealers in Texas and other states. The bills will close a loophole in the state’s Traffic and Vehicle law that allows law enforcement to disrupt the sales process of mobility vehicles that have been altered but are not titled.

MTA Proposes Long Island Bus and Able-Ride Cuts

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is proposing service reductions to Long Island Bus and Able-Ride that could impact half of the bus lines in Nassau County.

    Long Island Bus currently operates like a private bus service through a contract with Nassau County, which expects a $24 million budget shortfall this year for the service.