Tempus Today

Jonathan O’Dell the Assistive Technology and Training Specialist for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing presented an informative session on deaf culture and essential communication strategies for in and out of work. The presentation was held in the Stoughton office Suffolk room on April 25th 2024.

 “There is no one way to be Deaf, just as there is no one way to be hearing,” said O’Dell. “We are all different and should all be accepted on our own merits.”

 On a Thursday afternoon O’Dell spoke to Tempus on what it means to be culturally deaf and the dangers of audism. People who identify as culturally deaf come from an environment where American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary form of communication and should be treated the same as any other language and culture. While Audism is the inherent prejudice the deaf community face.

 He emphasized the importance of ASL interpreters and using a Certified Deaf Interpreter as a primary method of communication.

 The session covered an array of topics with detailed information and statistics on what it means to deaf and some of the adversity they face on daily basis.

 Tempus welcomed the information and its new ways of implementation while showing an adept understanding on the subject. Impressing O’Dell as he give praise to Tempus for creating an inclusive workspace.

For more information or to schedule a session contact Johnathan O’Dell at [email protected]”

Due to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act running out, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is in the unfortunate situation of needing to consider budget cuts for FY ’25. In its initial FY ’25 budget proposal, the Healey administration proposed a $113 million reduction to the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Program, a cut of roughly 10%. To do this, they have suggested no longer serving recipients who are receiving less than 10 hours a week of support and reducing the maximum hours devoted to meal preparation from 13 to seven.”

 “About 6,000 individuals could be affected by these cuts. One parent who recently spoke at the State House stated that the hour or two of support a day her son receives from his PCA makes all the difference in him being able to live independently and hold a job. This amount of service is what keeps many individuals from having to live in a nursing home or other fulltime living facility. The reduction in food preparation time is a challenge for individuals who have significant food allergies and special health conditions that require extensive preparation.

In April, the House Ways and Means Committee announced that it had listened to the voices of advocates and had restored full funding to their version of the budget.”

 Contact your Senator: (MA) Sen. Elizabeth Warren, (MA) Sen. Edward J. Markey,  (PA) Sen. John Fetterman, (PA) Sen. Bob Casey.   As of June 14 2024

As many of you know, we are in the process of completely transitioning from paper time sheets to the Electronic Verification System (EVV).

 “One particular Consumer/Surrogate who was selected to participate in the pilot program initially had reservations about using EVV, citing a lack of computer skills. We assured them that the process would be simple once they began. Initially, both the Surrogate and the PCA’s experienced challenges with the new system, but now they are pleased with using EVV. They find it much more efficient as everyone is accountable for clocking in and out, eliminating the need for constant reminders about submitting timesheets.” –  Anecdotal article provided by Tatiana B., PCM Issues Focused Skills Trainer with Tempus Unlimited, Inc.

The EVV system is an app on your phone that will be used to clock in and out while working as a PCA. Your consumer or their surrogate will also have an app on their phone to approve your hours.

 Although, the EVV is federally mandated, it will ultimately simplify your timesheet process while assuring there aren’t any errors in your pay!”

 “A Consumer who uses a magnet on their nose to operate their computer since they cannot use their hands initially had reservations about using EVV. They feared it would be time-consuming to complete tasks on the portal. After attending our training sessions, receiving support through in-home visits, and video calls, they can confidently use EVV without any issues. Expressing relief at how much easier it was to use opposed to regular timesheets. EVV”  – Anecdotal article provided by Tatiana B., PCM Issues Focused Skills Trainer with Tempus Unlimited, Inc.”