Enrich Your Life

When I speak with high school students about opportunities for personal and professional growth, number one on my list is being a volunteer or on the board of a non-profit.

Serving on the board of a local non-profit organization can be a rewarding and impactful way to contribute to the community.

Here are a few reasons why it can be a wonderful experience:

Community Engagement: By being on a non-profit board, you gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by your local community. This firsthand knowledge allows you to play an active role in addressing those needs and making a positive impact.

Networking Opportunities: Serving on a board exposes you to a diverse group of individuals who are passionate about the same cause. It provides you with networking opportunities and allows you to connect with like-minded individuals, community leaders, and professionals from various fields.

Skill Development: Joining a non-profit board allows you to develop and enhance your skills in leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, fundraising, financial management, and more. These skills can be valuable not only within the non-profit sector but also in your personal and professional life.

Making a Difference: Being part of a non-profit board gives you the chance to make a tangible difference in your community. You have the opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission, shape its direction, and ensure that it effectively serves the needs of the community.

Personal Fulfillment: Volunteering your time and expertise for a cause you care about can bring immense personal fulfillment. Seeing the positive impact of the non-profit’s work and witnessing the lives it touches can be incredibly rewarding and gratifying.

Currently, I serve on six boards and each non-profit brings additional value to our community.

Visit these non-profits and see if you can donate your time or money to one or more of these worthy causes.

Autism Moms of Houston

https://www.autismmomsofhouston.org/

https://www.autismmomsofhouston.org/meetourboard

Cafe Azul TX

https://www.facebook.com/cafeazultx

https://cafeazultx.wixsite.com/cafeazultxautism/post/leona-filis-community-advocate

Family, Friends and Duchenne

https://familyfriendsandduchenne.org/home-2/our-team/

Friends of Down Syndrome

https://www.friendsofdownsyndrome.org/leadership

Hope for Luka

https://hopeforluka.org/pages/copy-of-board-members

SAFE Diversity Communities

http://www.safediversity.org/

Community Outreach Events

https://www.facebook.com/groups/840056543353650/

Embracing Diversity Radio Show

https://www.facebook.com/groups/176841273950502/

Study Up on THHSC Programs That Support Individuals with Special Needs

For all the new parents of babies and toddlers diagnosed with chronic illness or a disability such as Autism, one of the first things you should do is sign your child up for support and services with your  State and local authority. Years ago, for my child, I contacted the Department of Aging and Disabilities (DADS, now see Texas Health and Human Services Commission) and Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA, now known as Harris Center).

 

Client Education 

 

My first reaction to receiving information about the Interest Lists for Medicaid Waiver Programs was one of disappointment.

I was certain that my household income would disqualify my son for benefits. I was wrong. The requirement for low or no income that you typically associate with Medicaid is waived for most of these programs.

If you have not already done so, please call 1-877-438-5658 to add your child to the Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCD) and Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Interest Lists.

For those of our parents whose kids have spent a couple of days in a nursing facility, and is medically fragile, you may wish to look into the MDCP Rider 28 if your child is returning home. Talk to your child’s doctor about Form 2406, Physician Recommendation for Length of Stay in a Nursing Facility.

For more information, contact The Filis Law Firm at 713-462-1777 or search for Medicaid Waiver Programs on the Houston Special Needs Attorneys website.

Tired of Being Denied Government Services – Sign Your Child Up For Medicaid Waiver Programs

Texas Department of Aging and Disabilities (“DADS”) was the agency that, for many years, parents with children with disabilities reached out to for government assistance of support and services. Texas programs were administered by DADS until its abolition on September 1, 2017.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (“HHS”) is now charged with protecting vulnerable Texans. HHS administers programs formally serviced by DADS, including:

Community Living Assistance and Support Services (“CLASS“)

Deaf Blind with Multiple Disabilities (“DBMD“)

Home and Community-based Services (“HCS“)

Medically Dependent Children’s Program (“MDCP“)

A common complaint I hear from parents who are in search of help from the government is that their family fails to qualify for support due to household income.  Although income is not necessarily a factor for eligibility for benefits from these Medicaid Waiver programs, waiting on an interest list for can take years.

 

As of July 31, 2017, tens of thousand of Texans are on interest lists. HCS has 86,989 people on its interest list, CLASS has 61,926 people on its interest list, and MDPC has 18,867 people on its interest lists.  Parents should contact HHS and their local benefits provider, such as the Harris Center, to begin the application process.

https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/records-statistics/interest-list-reduction

More Children in Need, Less Resources?

Although the Center for Disease Control issued their assessment in 2014 that 1 in 68 school-aged children are on the Autism spectrum, federal funding for the care of these Americans is in jeopardy. A person diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, or diagnosed with any of the many other related conditions may qualify to receive disability-related Medicaid benefits.

Analysis from Avalere predicts that Medicaid, which provides supports and services to  disabled children and adults, could see a reduction funding of up to $215 billion should the Graham-Cassidy bill be passed.

Three Republican senators and all Democratic senators vowed to vote against the latest attempt to repeal and replace the ACA, stalling the vote. The effort to change healthcare laws is not over. Parents and advocates of children and adults with special needs must get educated and involved in the healthcare debate. The Affordable Care Act has many problems that need to be addressed, but if you or a loved one is the recipient of Medicaid benefits, speak out to block a disaster and offer a solution.

Estate Planning Seminar March 11th

Good morning! We are getting ready for our joint presentation with Blake Douglas.

Estate Planning – whether you are a college student or grandparent, there are legal documents to assist you and your loved ones in stressful times of need.

Thank you Barbara Pardue for the fabulous Facebook event design.

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https://www.facebook.com/events/794520557363555/

 

See you at the office building 5600 NW Central Drive – large conference room on the 1st floor at 2 pm.

 

The FDA Should Listen to the Voice of the Patient – Perspective on benefits of use of Eteplirsen

Dominic Romito watched during testimony about Sarepta’s clinical trial of an experimental drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Photo from The Boston Globe 4/25/2016

Families with children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (“DMD”) from all over the United States flew to Maryland to attend a Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) advisory committee meeting on a mission to convince committee members to recommend accelerated approval of a new drug application for eteplirsen.  Scientists argued that the clinical trials provided evidence that the drug slowed the progression of DMD.  Parents received time-limited slots to discuss their own observations of the positive effects of the drug.

The accelerated approval provisions in Section 506(c) of FD&A Act, added by Section 112 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997, allows for accelerated approval to “a product for a serious or life-threatening disease or condition . . . upon a determination that the product has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonable likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinic endpoint that can by measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments.”

The advisory committee was asked if the applicant provided substantial evidence from adequate and well-controlled studies that Eteplirsen induces production of dystrophin to a level that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit.  The phrasing of the question is not applicable where the study participation is small due to the rarity of the disease, such as DMD.  Surrogate endpoints and intermediate clinical endpoints should be considered in situations for clinical studies for drugs for rare diseases.

Unfortunately, after hours of testimony, the committee recommended against approval for Sarepta’s exon-skipping drug eteplirsen.

The FDA is allowed to expedite programs for serious conditions in Section 506(b) of the FD&C Act as added by Section 112 of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 and amended by Section 901 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 (FDASIA).   Receiving and acknowledging the testimony of patients is part of the drug review process under the Patient Focused Drug Developments initiative launched by FDASIA.

By utilizing the flexibility offered under FDASIA, the FDA can fast-track the approval process for Eteplirsen.

Every minute matters to families with boys who have the rare disease.  The final FDA decision is with the director of the drug evaluation center, Janet Woodcock.

Debra Miler, co-founder and CEO of CureDuchenne, a nonprofit organization, offers her words of encouragement for approval at www.cureduchenne.org.  The advancement of treatment for a child with DMD affects the quality of life.

Senator Rubio brought attention to this matter – click here for the video SenatorMarcoRubio.

 

Radio spot – Info on Duchenne

Tomorrow morning at 8:00 on KPFT 90.1 Open Journal. Lindy Fillis (mom to Ditri age 5) and Erin Bullers (mom to Nicholas age 12) will be doing an interview from 8:25 to 8:55 explaining  Duchenne MD, upcoming Cure Duchenne Cares event taking place on Friday and Saturday, and  resources for families. They will also share with the audience on how they can help the Duchenne community with the critical adcom coming up on April 25th with the FDA. Although etepliresen only helps 13% of  Duchenne boys, it will pave the way for future drug approval.
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> You can urge your Senators to Sign a letter to the FDA. The link to do that is:
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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Please think about visiting this website today and get great information about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and how you can help.
http://cureduchenne.com/blog/giving-our-sons-with-duchenne-the-best-care-possible/

The video starting with Emily and Will about clinical trials and research had a huge impact on me and I hope you take the time to watch it at http://www.cureduchenne.org/about-cureduchenne.html

 

Cure Duchenne Cares Workshop April 9th

duchenne-cares-head

April 9th at 1:15 pm, Leona E. Filis will be speaking about legal issues, including Special Needs Trusts, Wills, and Medicaid Waiver Programs – specifically C.L.A.S.S.

For more DMD Workshop information, go to cureduchennecares.org

CureDuchenneCares_Caregiver_Flyer_Houston