The Need is
GREAT!
Our Focus!
Physical Developmental Disabilities !
There are numerous "Developmental Disabilities" young people may become afflicted with, and then have to live with "for life".
We are focused on the BROAD class of CHRONIC, SIGNIFICANT, PHYSICAL DISABILITY DUE TO DEVELOPMENT
Our Viewpoint & Position!
aHAND4 ® Life! serves VIP!s
(Members and Clients) who meet specific Qualifications. Such are outlined below, and represent a "conglomeration" of Requirements stated nationally, and in each State where the VIP! lives, and where funding for Services is derived from. Final determinations are made with any State funding Entities, and the aH4L! Member/Client Service Committee.
aHAND4 ® Life!, by our Policies, works diligently supporting State and Federal policies and to avoid “building dependency”. With any required stakeholders, we objectively, professionally assess a Member/Client's, and upon mutual agreement to provide Services, we develop and implement effective Solutions to specific Needs, then taper over time, and Terminate such Services wherever possible.
In regard to the aforementioned aHAND4 ® Life!'s Mission is clear, and long-term minded - based on decades of experience of our Founder with a "VIP!"
and his Graduate level study in neuroscience, and Professional observations of himself and other aH4L! Staff, Directors and Advisors. VIP!s most typically require SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT due to their grave, non-ameliorating conditions - no matter how much “Technology”, “Service/Support” or “Training” is provided/invested "up front”. Such is typically long-term, though, as a class, VIP! life expectancy unfortunately is significantly shorter than "healthy" people. So we intend to support our VIP!s as our Resources permit. Typically we find that is from initial levels of "unmett need", to a somewhat lower, "steady-state"/"baseline" level of support, and then “As NEEDED… 4Life!”
. We note, we mean in a duplicity here, “for Life! and Living!” – for standard daily activities of living - but also based on objective physical (Medical) and Sociologic historical, statistical scientific data.
Our Outlook!
To address the above "tension" that exists with regard to funding Services, which we consider a long-term, "systemic" issue, we, within our permissions of our 501c3 ("Public Charity") status, will be working with Institutions such as Universities and Hospitals and Clinics in the Field of "Palliative Care" - even Legislatures. We hope to be an influential participant on the "Social side" of the Team, with other Professionals as “Medical" and "Industry", in a multidisciplinary approach to developing "long-term" funding solutions with effective outcomes for "VIP!'s"
, in perpetuity. aHAND4 ® Life! expects multiple, well-controlled, scientific studies will be conducted, and will ultimately improve the "state-of-the-art" in the Industry, toward the ultimate goal which is improved Quality and Effectiveness in the routine life of "VIP!'s"
who are capable and responsible to live semi-independently in "supported living" environments, "in pursuit of happiness" with their "Life and Liberty"!
Key Definitions (A)
US Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) Standards!
We firstly review Serviceship against HHS Standards, to assure broad, general compliance.
STATE Definitions (A)
This page will expand with links to Criteria applicable in each State we begin aH4L! Services. The State of CA is listed here because we were formed in CA, and such is the first State we will be working as qualified "Vendor".
CA Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS) Standards!
We firstly review Serviceship against HHS Standards, to assure broad, general compliance.
KEY DEFINITIONS (B)
US Social Security Administration Leadership!
aHAND4 ® Life! bases its charitable Membership & Client medical qualifications primarily on those defined by the US Social Security Administration's Supplement Security Income (SSI) Impairment classifications, (Part A (adult) and some Part B (children),
We also utilize US SSI's "income limits" for our PSPD Membership financial criteria.
Please see the links below for our common significant physical disability categories.
- Musculoskeletally Disabled (signif. crippling, spinal, neuromuscular disorders, etc.)
- Neurologically Disabled (signif. epilepsy, Early Parkinsons, Sclerosis, Dystrophy, etc.)
- Visually Disabled (legally blind, typically with concomittant disorder(s))
- Limb Disabled (2 hands/arms/legs missing/amputated due to developmental
- Cardiovascularly Disabled (signif. various disease, disorder, failure, arrhythmia, etc.)
- Oncologically Disabled (signif. III/IV Cancers, lymphomas, tumors, leukemias, etc.)
- Lymphatically Disabled (signif. immune system disorders, arthritis, vasculitis etc.)
- Respiratory Disabled (signif. asthma, fibrosis, pneumo/bronchio disorders, etc.)
- Digestively Disabled (signif. hemorraging, short bowel syndrome, etc.
- Genitourinary Disabled (signif renal disease/disorder, nerophathy, uropathy, etc.)
- Skin Disabled (signif. Ichthyosis, Bullous, photosensitivity etc.)
- Hematologically Disabled (signif. thromboses, coagulation (e.g. hemophelia), etc.)
"Reducing the Burden on Government"
Bringing greater "Accountability!" over charitable giving
In delivery of our Programs, we promise the Public, by unanimous vote of our Directors, TWO things: 1)Best-in-Class Operating Efficiency on donations of a self-imposed 85%; AND 2)Member/ Client Accountability - "skin in the game" - "commitment" - "ethics" - our unique, long-term VISUAL oversight of donated Things!
The RESULT IS: 1) increased Public confidence and giving, 2) a low cost of fundraising, 3) thus REDUCED Burden on Government, 4) Greater REACH to people in need, AND 5) improved "Total Quality of Care!"
Edward W. LeMahieu
aHAND4 Life! President, Chairman, Secretary,
CFO, Founder, Honored Parent!
With YOU, the Public, WE ARE:
KEY DEFINITIONS (C)
aHAND4 Life! Leadership!
aHAND4 Life! adds to the following disability criteria to the US HHS ACL and SSA SSI Definitions, to match our core competencies, for effectiveness. We will modify our criteria and approach as necessary to grow in Service of our target demographic, across the nation, in compliance with our Articles & and Mission, in a broad, effective manner.*
Edward W. LeMahieu
aHAND4 Life! President, Chairman, Secretary,
CFO, Founder, Honored Parent!
- 1. MEDICAL (Physical)/ EMOTIONAL / COGNITIVE
- Certified (Specialist Physician) Development Disability (US SSI criteria)
- Certified (Psychologist) no mental/emotional/behavioral illness (disease/disorder)
- Certified (Psychologist) normal/near-normal IQ (>65)
- 2. AGES
- Age X (school age K or 1st typ.) to Age Y (must leave home/apt for care facility)
- 3. FINANCIAL
Members:
US SSI Income only ("Poverty Line" - 2014: $11K single/ $22K married)Clients:
No Income Limit - Service(s) each by mutually negotiated (low) Fees- 4. LIVING ENVIRONMENT
- "Controlled", "Stable" home Facility (house, apt, or condo) secured by Member/Client and/or Parent/Guardian/Conservator
- "Controlled", "Stable" "Head-of-Household" by Member/Client (or w/ formally paid Caregiver(s)) or by Parent/Guardian/Conservator
- Demonstrated (aH4L! or Social Agency) Temp /Perm need for a aH4L! Program(s).
- 5. OTHER PSPD CRITERIA
- Agreement to live according to mutual Membership or Clientship Agreement
- Agreement to live with Responsibility & Accountability as "good neighbors")
DEEP within Our Mission IS:
... a call for us to help avoid "Amputated" spirits! For our PSPD Members & Clients aHAND4 ® Life! IS:
THE NEED
IS GREAT!
(A) + (B) + (C)
Help us REACH & SERVE the significant number of people in the US who are socially and emotionally normal, yet have significant independent living needs - often financial - due to their chronic, Significant Physical Disability due to Development(PSPD)! All are such special people that we love - with life hard enough. Let's assist their living as good neighbors, working toward self-reliance, and help them to "thrive", not "subsist", "in pursuit of their happiness", like the rest of us. Anything less is simply not acceptable. aHAND4 Life! implements key success-factors in comprehensive, innovative, integrated Programs! Join Us!
Edward W. LeMahieu
aHAND4 Life! President, Chairman, Secretary,
CFO, Founder, Honored Parent!
