Helping to Facilitate the Participation of Children with Disabilities in Community Settings
The Community Connections Communicator -- April 2004
In this Issue:
The theme of this month's issue is Tackling the Healthcare
Maze. In this issue you will find information on how to
locate, interview, and develop a good working relationship with health
professionals who are willing to work with children with disabilities.
There is an article included that can be given to your medical provider
to give her ideas on how to accommodate children with disabilities.
In addition you will also find tips on how to communicate with your
health insurance provider about rejected or non- covered claims. Furthermore,
you will find an abundance of resources on understanding medical terminology
and websites that assist with locating doctors throughout the United
States. There is a "Spotlight" medical provider who has proven
that with slight accommodations and a positive attitude, working with
children with disabilities can be rewarding for both the families as
well as the providers. So if you've had difficulties in the past with
trying to locate and sustain medical providers who are willing and able
to work with your child, look no further, this newsletter will give
you the foundation you need to be on your way.
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Tip Sheet: What Do You Mean Its Not Covered? |
| Check out these tips published in the Exceptional Parent Magazine, which address the tough topic of what rights and responsibilities families have when there are disagreements with their insurance company. | |
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Articles: |
| A Parents Guide to Doctors, Disabilities, and Family | |
| This article has valuable
information about the need for families to be informed of the health
care process. It gives insight on how to find and interview a prospective
doctor and how to be involved in your child's healthcare. To view
the entire article click, on the link below. http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/outprint/pa7txt.htm |
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| Removing Barriers
to Health Care: A Guide for Health Professionals This article will provide information essential to healthcare professionals as well as families. http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/rbar/ |
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Spotlights of the Month: |
| Greenway Dental
Group The spotlight of this month is the Greenway Dental Group located in Greenbelt Maryland. This group of dentists provides services to families with children with and without disabilities. |
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Recommended Websites: |
The American
Academy of Family Physicians American Medical
Association |
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Spotlight a Welcoming Business: |
Community Connections
would like to “Spotlight” businesses who are welcoming
to children with disabilities and their families. If you would
like to spotlight a business, please click on the following link
and we will post it free of charge on our website. Thank you. |
Tip sheet
What Do You Mean
It's Not Covered?
Have you ever had a disagreement with your insurance company about what
is and what isn't covered? Have you ever been told that your child doesn't
need a referral for a particular specialist or doesn't have a medical
need for adaptive equipment? If so the tips provided in this article
will hopefully help you begin to address these types of disagreements.
Published in the Exceptional Parent Magazine, these seven tips provide
advice on how to submit claim forms, keep adequate records, pay for
services, and communicate with the insurance companies. The tips provided
will help you begin to get the most out of your health insurance plan.
Click on the link below to view the tips in full: http://www.exceptionalparent.com/healthcare/not_covered.htm
Articles
A Parent's Guide to Doctors, Disabilities, and the Family
This article has valuable information for families with children with
disabilities or special health care needs. You will find information
on how to choose healthcare providers, what to ask specifically if your
child has a disability, and what are parent's responsibilities. The
article also includes essential questions families should ask in interviewing
a prospective doctor, what to ask after the doctor has seen your child
and what to ask about tests and referrals that may be suggested. This
article is comprehensive and ideal for families with children with disabilities.
To view the entire article please click on the following link: http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/outprint/pa7txt.htm
Additional article:
Removing Barriers
to Health Care: A Guide for Health Professionals
Check out this article, which provides information which healthcare
providers can use to help them think about how to make their facilities
more accessible for children with disabilities and their families. Click
on the link to view the full article: http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/rbar/
Spotlights of the Month!
Greenway Dental Group
7525 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 102
Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
(301) 345-2880
The Greenway Dental Group provides dental services to both adults and children. Dr. Gravitz is the child & adolescent dentist specialist who sees children with and without disabilities. You will find a caring staff, compassionate dentists, and excellent services in this location. Dr. Gravitz treats all patients the same; he talks with them explaining what he is doing every step of the way. You will also find on staff adult, periodontics and orthodontics specialists. If you are looking for a dentist who provides quality care and is accommodating to children with disabilities, please give Greenway Dental Group a call at (301) to interview them for yourself.
We currently offer training
and technical consultation to businesses, churches, and other community
organizations to help make them more welcoming to families and children
with special needs. If you know of a business or other organization
that would like to take advantage of these services, please e-mail us
at: communityconnections@umd.edu
OR
If you know of a business that is already welcoming to children with
special needs and their families and you would like to share this information
with other families and professionals, please send us your name as well
as the name and contact information for the business with a brief description
of why you believe they are welcoming to families. If appropriate, we
will post the business on our website and we may even feature it as
a 'Spotlight if the Month'. E-mail your submissions to: communityconnections@umd.edu
*Questions or Suggestions about our newsletter? Have an idea you would
like to submit? Please feel free to contact us at communityconnections@umd.edu
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Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, all referenced articles are available
at no charge to you. Community Connections provides this for informational
purposes only and cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided
by linked sites. The opinions and views expressed at these web sites
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2004, Community Connections. All rights reserved.
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© 2004 University of Maryland. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated on
September 26, 2005
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