GT Independence in California

03/04/2022

Hello! Important update: We're going to be retiring this account. All content will post to our main GT Independence account page. https://www.facebook.com/gtindependence

Be sure to follow us there to stay up-to-date on all things self-determination!

01/28/2022

Keep following along!

Legislation introduced at press conference today Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Assemblymember Maienschein Joins with Disability Rights Organizations and to Introduce

01/20/2022

Did you know that every home in the U.S. is eligible to order free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests? The tests are completely free!

Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

01/19/2022

Want to submit a question to Judy Heumann? Judy is adding a segment to her podcast to answer a question from a listener. Learn more below!

Introducing… Ask Judy! At the end of every episode of podcast, I’ll be answering a question from a listener. Tune in to a new episode dropping tomorrow featuring the first Ask Judy segment.

Have a question you want me to answer in a future episode? Send it to media@judithheumann.com or via DM on Instagram and Twitter.
Image Description: A graphic with a denim background. In the center is the logo for The Heumann Perspective which has orange and purple concentric circles around a photo of Judy Heumann. Above and below is white and purple text that reads “New Podcast Segment: Ask Judy!”

01/13/2022

Did you know there are some hidden care benefits for veterans and surviving spouses?

Receiving long term care as you age can add up costs. This puts a strain on income. Many veterans and their surviving spouses don’t know about the benefits they’re entitled to for long term care needs.

In this blog, learn about your options. Like an underused pension benefit called Aid and Attendance.

As you age, long term care costs can add up quite quickly costing you and your family a huge dent in your income. However, many veterans and their surviving spouses don’t know about the benefits they’re entitled to for long term care needs.

01/04/2022

As a caregiver, life is easier when you can track your time on the go. The Caregiver app by GT Independence makes this simple. With the app, you can easily track care hours, get approval from your employer, and turn in timesheets for payment. (And it's free on both iPhone and Android.)

Have a question about the Caregiver app? Here are answers to 9 questions we are asked most often.

Caregiver is an app created that lets you easily track care hours, get approval from your employer, and turn in timesheets for payment.

12/28/2021

Subminimum wage is a problem we can't ignore.

In this episode of the Disability Garrison, Michael and Holly discuss subminimum wage with Dr. Serena Lowe and Sunny Cefaratti. Sunny gives her account of the eight years she spent in a sheltered workshop making less than minimum wage. Serena talks about the Fair Labor Standards Act Section 14(c) and how it became a way for companies to pay employees with disabilities less.

What are sheltered workshops like for thousands of Americans with disabilities? Learn why we need change and get some action steps to take against subminimum wage.

In this episode of the Disability Garrison, Michael and Holly discuss subminimum wage with Dr. Serena Lowe and Sunny Cefaratti. Sunny gives her account of the eight years she spent in a sheltered workshop making less than minimum wage.

12/22/2021

Happy Holidays from the team at GT Independence! We hope you'll have a great holiday and spend time with the people most important to you.

GT's holiday office closures:
-December 24
-December 27
-December 31

Have a great holiday season!

12/06/2021

GT's CEO, Holly Carmichael, shares her tips and experience on being a senior executive in this "Women Of The C-Suite" interview with Authority Magazine.

When asked why it's so important for a business to have a diverse team, Holly replied:

"If everyone looks and thinks the same, you’ll have one answer to a problem. ... At GT, we see diversity as a distinct benefit. It’s a way to understand more about the daily challenges of the people we serve. We’re proud to employ people across 22 states, representing various races, backgrounds and belief systems. We speak 23 languages among us, and about 10% of our employees self-identify as having a disability. This diversity is a strength, and it truly helps us achieve more as an organization."

Read the full interview here –

An Interview With Charlie Katz

12/03/2021

Congratulations to our Week 4 winners of the !
And thank you to everyone who participated by nominating a caregiver.

Caregivers are changing lives for the better every day, and they deserve a moment in the spotlight.

Read the stories of our weekly winners and highlights on the Wall of Thanks. https://gtindependence.com/gt-care-awards-2021/ -of-thanks

11/30/2021

There are 65.7 million people in the United States providing care to someone without being paid for it. In this month's Disability Garrison episode, Michael and Holly discuss family caregivers. They are joined by Melissa Schlemmer, the mother and primary care provider of her son.

Melissa, Michael, and Holly talk about who should be paid to provide care for a loved one. (Spoiler alert: It's everyone!)

Listen now: https://gtindependence.com/disability-garrison-episode-04-family-caregivers-with-melissa-schlemmer/?fbclid=IwAR16jvQUT0kQZ8I4M3dP0pPZ35zwwBa5k5FXrkEIVprm5jlK-o0CVopHZvI

11/26/2021

November 26 is Native American Heritage Day and a time to honor Indigenous cultures. When considering disabilities, did you know:

– 2 in 5 Non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives have a disability (CDC, Disability Impacts All of Us)

– The highest rate of disability among U.S. children are among Native American children (U.S. Census Bureau)

– Home and Community-Based Services for Indigenous people with disabilities and aging communities can be a more culturally appropriate option for receiving care (Supporting American Indian and Alaska Native People in the Community, Department of Health & Human Services & CMS)

AT GT, we believe that culture should always be considered when discussing Home and Community-Based Services. We also recognize there is much more work we must do to improve our services and connection with Indigenous populations. We have declared our pursuit to be an anti-racist organization. We also continue to use the National Standards for Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) as a roadmap for our approach. This helps us to best meet the needs of historically excluded groups.

Learn more about GT’s journey to be more inclusive and practice cultural humility here – https://gtindependence.com/measuring-our-work-on-culture-and-belonging/