Disability Rights Mississippi listens to concerns around the state

From The Sun-Herald:

A listening tour tuned to the needs of people with disabilities will visit three Coast locations this week to find out what’s working and what’s not.

As part of 35 stops statewide, Disability Rights Mississippi will host meetings July 16-17.

Transportation, refreshments, information and sign language interpreters will be provided, and all events are free and open to everyone.

“We would like to reach both individuals with handicaps and organizations that work with them,” said Amelia Puffer, case manager in the DRMS Coast office in Pascagoula, comparing the events to a series of town hall meetings.

“We want to find out if they are aware the state has a protection and advocacy system for the disabled,” Puffer said, “to find out how systems in the state are working for them. For example, the education system. If they have a child who is in special education, are the Medicaid and Medicare systems working? If they have a family member in a nursing home, is that person being treated fairly? Are their rights being violated? There are a lot of accessibility issues in the state, in grocery stores, restaurants, voting booths. There is assistive technology available. Say, if someone is legally blind and needs (special equipment) to be able to read, are they aware of the way to get that type of equipment? Or to get a wheelchair that Medicare is not providing?”

Headquartered in Jackson, DRMS changed its name in June from the Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System, which was established more than 30 years ago out of the National Disability Rights Network. It is now a legal-based protection and advocacy organization that serves people with all types of disabilities. The Coast office is scheduled to move into new quarters in D’Iberville by early August.

Since Katrina, the Coast group has been working under grants to help with hurricane recovery for people with a disability, Puffer said. Right now, it’s trying to help approximately 64 people with mental or physical disabilities who are still in inadequate housing, including FEMA trailers.

“We’re helping find volunteers and organizations that might help,” she said. Whether someone needs a place to live, a wheelchair ramp or bars installed in the shower or hallway, Puffer said her group finds the means to purchase the material and volunteers to get it done.