Loranne Ausley
Representative
Tallahassee, FL
Pro-Growth Progressive Ideas Shared
Problem
Children with disabilities in the public school system often require assistive technology devices to provide them with the opportunity to fully integrate into the learning process and successfully navigate through school, the community and the workplace. Examples of assistive technology devices include tablets which help non-verbal students speak or help visually impaired students access materials, voice activated wheelchairs, voice activated readers, voice-synthesized computer modules, optical scanners, and talking software. These devices are created and programmed to meet the needs of individual students. However, due to a lack of cooperation, collaboration and bureaucratic red tape these life-changing technologies did not follow a student through their educational progress and instead reverted back to the school system.
Solution
In 2005 I sponsored and passed legislation ensuring that individuals with disabilities who are provided with assistive technology devices may retain the devices as they transition through the education system, employment and independent living. Upon returning to the Legislature in 2016, I learned that some students were not able to access their individualized devices outside of school, so we filed a bill to correct this. This legislative change makes sure that assistive technology can help students with disabilities fully integrate into the learning process, and successfully navigate through school, the community and the workplace by giving them access to this life-changing technology at school, at home and in the community.
Problem
1 in 5 children aged 0-18 has a diagnosable mental disorder. 1 in 10 youth has a serious mental health problem that is severe enough to impair their function at home, in school, or in the community. Stress experienced by children exposed to hurricanes and other natural disasters can have lasting impacts on mental wellness, particularly children in remote, rural areas. A significant number of children and families have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Michael and are in need of behavioral/mental health navigation services if they are to maximize intervention benefits, reduce risk, and increase the overall quality of their lives. A severe lack of providers in the area makes it difficult for families to access these critical services.
Solution
Providing a centralized entry point dedicated to assuring high-quality and culturally competent behavioral health services to youth aged 0 to 21 years old living in a hurricane impacted county. Using technology, the Pediatric Behavioral Health Navigation program provides access to a comprehensive range of diagnostic and treatment services for children and adolescents with psychiatric and developmental disorders including specialized evaluations for youth from birth to 21 years, evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, and disruptive behaviors, psychopharmacological evaluation and management, psychodynamic psychotherapy, parenting skills workshops, individual school consultation, and case management services and coordination.
Problem
We know that the starting line isn’t the same for everyone. The bottom line is that place matters as to how well we live, and how well our children live. Poverty and place are inextricably connected – children who grow up in poverty have different outcomes than those who grow up in healthy neighborhoods. My community is a community of neighborhoods. Most of us are defined by the neighborhood we live in, and the sad truth is that too many of our neighborhoods are not healthy. Nearly half of Leon County families with children under the age of 5 are living in poverty, and these numbers are even higher in neighborhoods like South City, where 68.5 % of families live in poverty.
Solution
Purpose Built Communities has been working across the country to successfully impact family outcomes by transforming struggling neighborhoods like South City into healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. By focusing at the neighborhood level on mixed income housing, a cradle to college education pipeline, and community wellness, Purpose Built is creating pathways out of poverty. In cities across the country, crime rates are going down, and graduation rates and college acceptance rates are going up because of a strategic, intentional focus on place.
Problem
With an estimated 825,000 Floridians who are deaf or hard of hearing, routine traffic stops can create dangerous situations. A hearing impaired driver likely cannot hear a siren or law enforcement commands during a traffic stop, which has resulted in tragedies for both law enforcement and hearing-impaired drivers. Without prior knowledge that the driver is hearing impaired, the officer may believe the driver is not complying or is resisting the officer.
Solution
Florida now has a voluntary process for deaf/hard of hearing drivers to indicate their hearing impairment on their vehicle registration. In the event of a traffic stop, law enforcement is able to access this information while running the tag – before approaching the vehicle – eliminating any potential communications issues and giving the officer the information necessary to adjust their approach appropriately.
Problem
We know that 90% of brain development takes place before the age of 5, yet community support for families with young children is sporadic and fragmented. Although Leon County houses the Capitol of Florida, 2 major research universities and a community college, more than 25% of Leon County children live in poverty and a corresponding 25% enter Kindergarten without the language or basic skills to succeed. Leon County rates for infant mortality, premature births and low birth weight in Leon County are higher than in the state as a whole.
Solution
Whole Child Leon (WCL) is a community-wide initiative designed to address critical issues affecting our children by bringing together public, private and nonprofit partners, business leaders, elected officials, educators, health care providers, parents and caregivers to work together towards systemic change. WCL empowers these partners with data to better understand children's needs and equip the entire community to measure progress, provide recommendations and to inform progress moving forward. Key initiatives include the PACT Early Childhood System of Care, a monthly Whole Child Leon Professional Network, an annual Maternal Child Health Community Conference, an ongoing Breastfeeding Policy Workgroup, bi-annual Early Childhood Developmental Screenings, ongoing Childhood Obesity Prevention Education and neighborhood equity work.