Our Annual Meeting was held in Cape Girardeau , Missouri on September 17, 18, and 19, 2004.  Friday night began with a trip to the Black Forest, with transportation provided courtesy of VIP Industries.  Approximately 100 individuals attended, and enjoyed the music of  “Coyote Creek”.

 Habilitation Centers are an integral part of the continuum of care.

Saturday proved to be very interesting starting with presentations from parents, siblings, and care givers of persons living and thriving in Habilitation Centers.  Presenters included Betty Coll, Bellefontaine Parent Association, Jean Barrett, Higginsville Parent Association, Natalie Woods, Nevada Parent Association, and Shawn Keenan, President Local 622 AFSCME. Each presentation outlined why the habilitation centers are a necessity for the most vulnerable of our society. Parents, siblings, and care givers reviewed the positive things that habilitation centers have done for their child or dependent.  http://www.rcomo.org/annual2004/default.htm

 State Schools for the Severely Handicapped

Dr. Gary Schroer, Superintendent for the State Schools for the Severely Handicapped presented the State School curriculum as it is today.  http://www.rcomo.org/annual2004/pp/gary/gary.html

Elementary and Secondary Education—Sheltered Workshop Section

Mr. Larry Young, Director of Sheltered Workshops presented the Sheltered Workshop Program.  Larry provided figures as to why the Sheltered Workshop program is such a cost-effective program, and how much it gave back to the local communities in revenues, as well as providing meaningful employment to over 7,000 persons with Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.  http://www.rcomo.org/annual2004/pp/larry/larry.html

Agency Tours

Tours were provided VIP Industries Sheltered Workshop programs as well as Regency Managements’ Group Home, and Independent Supported Living Apartments.  The Tenants enjoyed showing off their apartments and visiting with the people on the tour.   http://www.vipindustries.com/regency.htm

An evening banquet  honored the 2004 Friends of the MRC award:
 

 A.M. Spradling, Jr. was honored as the “Father of Mental Health”  He served in the Missouri Senate from 1952-1977.  Spradling sponsored and passed both the Sheltered Workshop, and Senate Bill 40 laws that give meaningful work and safe residences for people with Mental Retardation in our state.   He handled every major piece of legislation dealing with mental health from 1954 to 1977.  We extend our sympathy to the family of A.M. Spradling, Jr., who passed away on Wednesday, October 20, 2004.  He will be sadly missed, but always remembered as a “Friend of the MRC”, and “Father of Mental Health”.
 

 Betty Coll accepted the Friend of the MRC award for her late husband John Coll, who was a founder of the Bellefontaine Parents Association.  John and his wife Betty have spent many hours educating elected officials in St. Louis and Jefferson City about the needs of people with Mental Retardation, and the appropriateness of Habilitation Centers. Dedicated parents like John and Betty have made Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, Inc., (Formerly Missouri Association For Retarded Citizens, Inc.,) a powerful voice over the last fifty years.

 Autism Forum

Sunday  morning at 9:00 a.m. a forum was held on Autism.  Presenters included Betty Hearnes, Former Member of Mental Health Commission, Representative Kevin Threlkeld, M.D., Barbara Whitman PhD, St. Louis University, and Lugene Clark, Parent. All gave dramatic presentations.  Discussions included the relationship between Thimerosal and the alarming rise in Autism, and the difference between a medical diagnosis of  Autism and the educational diagnosis of Autism.

Missouri Take Heed:

The Missouri Department of Mental Health continues to proceed with their plan to downsize the habilitation centers in Missouri, regardless of parents wishes.  They need to read an article that was published in the American Journal on Mental Retardation:  Vol 102, No.6, pp. 569-581.  Mortality in Persons With Developmental Disabilities After Transfer into Community Care. 

This article stated that the de-institutionalization process in California appears to have resulted in a substantial increase in mortality of persons with developmental disabilities of up to 67 percent. You may order the complete article from the American Journal on Mental Retardation website www.aamr.org

Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri Re-organizes:

The Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, Inc., is re-organizing. We would like to recognize Mr. Jerry Ford for the work he has provided to our state organization for the past several years, and wish him well in his future endeavors.  This re-organization will prove to be an exciting time for all persons with Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities and their families.  We will remain strong and vigilant, always educating and providing advocacy for the most vulnerable citizens of our society and their family members.

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed Legislation

SB730—The Homestead Preservation Act enables seniors and disabled persons to obtain a credit against their property taxes for an increase to their taxes that exceed 5 percent in a reassessment year and 2.5 percent in a no-reassessment year.  The General Assembly is required to appropriate funds (out of general revenue) to pay for this credit to the counties so they will not lose funds. The income limit is up to $70,000.00 of household income, you must be 65 or older, (or at least one spouse must be 65), or disabled.  Must certify that improvements to the house were greater than 5 percent of the prior year value.

SB1003—The first bill to pass this session and be signed into law was the comprehensive children’s  mental health bill.  This bill eliminates the need for families to give up custody of their children to receive mental health services, and those children who were in need of only mental health services may be returned to their family’s custody.

HB 855—Mental Health Parity bill for insurance.  The bill states that health carriers that offer benefit plans in Missouri on or after 1/1/2005 are required to provide coverage for mental health conditions. (except of chemical dependency conditions)  Coverage cannot have rates, terms, or conditions that place a greater financial burden on an insured for mental health treatment than for physical health treatment, may be administered by a managed care program and may be delivered through a series of contractual arrangements.  This provision does not apply to certain insurance policies, including individually underwritten insurance policies.

**Enclosed please find a membership application for individuals or agencies that have not become members of our organization.   Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri,, Inc., is a parent run organization that will speak freely against actions that will  alter, dissolve, or reduce programs and choices for  persons with mental retardation, and developmental disabilities.  We will continue to provide education, and positive support for legislation that will  help improve and enhance the lives of the individuals we serve. 

Our fight is never over, we must stand united to protect and preserve the programs we fought so long and hard for, for our sons and daughters.  We can never be afraid to stand up and be heard. In the words of President Andrew Jackson (1832)  “ One man with courage, makes a majority”

_{Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri, Inc. - www.rcomo.org - email: info@rcomo.org - Phone (800)-417-8275}

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