Washington, DC – On Friday, February 10, 150 leaders of The Arc from across the country met with a variety of senior White House officials at a Community Leaders Briefing to ask questions and discuss issues facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) (for Massachusetts attendees please see list below which includes towns). The session, held just for The Arc, included an unannounced visit from President Barack Obama. The President spoke of his commitment to people with disabilities saying, “I’ve got your back.”    Read on to see comments from the other speakers and pictures from the event.  Speakers included the Chief of Staff, Domestic Policy Director and the Attorney General’s leader on Civil Rights enforcement.  To see video of part of the day, go here. 

Read More Here.

Washington, DC – This week, five leaders of The Arc from Massachusetts will join 150 leaders of The Arc from across the country to attend a White House Community Leaders Briefing.   Over the course of the day, leaders of chapters of The Arc, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), will be briefed by high level White House and Administration officials on topics ranging from Medicaid to education to community living and employment for people with I/DD, and have the chance to engage with and ask questions of these officials.  This day-long briefing is specifically for The Arc’s network, and comes just weeks before Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, which is in March and will be marked with efforts across the country to raise awareness of issues facing people with disabilities. 

This tough economy has been doubly hard for children and adults and their families served through the Department of Developmental Services. Some of the House 2 budget decisions will not help alleviate what families are facing. The Arc and ADDP are finalizing with other groups priorities to share with house and senate members. Here is a foreshadowing of key priorities:

• The Family Support/Respite program - request restoration of $15.5 Million which includes the 2010 cuts
• Include a salary reserve of $28 Million for direct support staff and managers
• Maintain Transportation services as a separate line item and include annual costs for this year's Turning 22 students
• Add $1.3 Million to Employment and Day Service account to cover full costs

Read House 2 Report and Analysis. 

Today's Notes from The Arc is the link to this headline.

Governor Deval Patrick has released the highly anticipated state’s fiscal year 2013 budget. The governor has stated his commitment to put communities and families first.  We have seen that in action when last summer family support and day habilitation cuts were not implemented. Even so, we will need to strongly advocate during the next step of the budget process with House Ways and Means to restore Family Support Programs ($5.5 Million cut this year, $10 Million in 2010), Turning 22 which is still stuck at $5 Million despite 710 students and a salary reserve.  Our outline covers both bad and good news.  Read more at the link.

Governor Deval Patrick will release his proposed budget for next fiscal year (2013) on Wednesday.  Representatives of The Arc and ADDP met with administration officials last week to emphasize our concerns about the challenges faced by families and persons with disabilities over the past 3 years.

More than 4,400 persons with disabilities (conservative estimate) in need of some support have graduated special education programs over this 3 year period during the recession. At DDS (Dept. of Developmental Services), referrals for Turning 22 total approximately 2,100 people during this same time period. Annually at least 200 of the special education graduates headed to DDS are in urgent need of residential services. The rising numbers of adults turning 22 years with autism, complex medical conditions and other disabilities are finding few options with many choosing state plan services which do not provide employment options. Others are finding no alternatives.

Meanwhile employment funding at DDS and MRC (Mass. Rehabilitation Commission) has been frozen or cut with no follow along dollars at MRC for individuals placed in employment.   Two stories from this fall hit home. A middle-aged man of 57 years just entered a local housing apartment complex but his care is being coordinated by his parents who are in their 80s. No disability agency has prioritized him for funding or services. Needless to say, he will need more supports soon- his parents can't do it on their own. Another young man of 25 years with autism is at home without options since he has been deemed ineligible for DDS services after years of special education. With family support cut by $10 Million in 2010, this family and many others have no alternative.

Community programs managed primarily by non-profits have not received cost of living adjustments in years and salaries are trailing behind state employee counterparts. There was no raise for this group, despite a 3% raise for state employees this year. Health care premium increases are squeezing agencies financially too.

It's critical to make up for lost time as situations become more desperate for individuals and/or families in the community: New funding is needed for Family Support, Turning 22, Employment and Community Service Rates and Salaries.  

For other news from the January 23 issue of Notes from The Arc, please go here.

The report in State House News yesterday noted that that in addition to big 26% increase in Federal revenue that all other proposals have been withdrawn and Medicare-Medicaid work will continue on another track.  The duals proposal is still alive however and we will need to continue our advocacy on the outcome.  The Governor completed a deal with the Feds on their Major Medicaid Waiver pulling in a 26.2% increase or $5.69 billion.  We congratulate the Governor and Secretary Bigby and the MassHealth team on this major accomplishment.

You can read a recent article on the duals program here.

The ages 14 to 22 years are critical ones for the transition to adulthood. During the school years there is an entitlement to services which is not the case in adulthood. So it is important for you to think, as early as possible, about the important steps you or your teenager will need to make and to develop a plan for his/her future. Two resources you can take advantage of right now! Read more. 

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) held two hearings on the Governor's soon-to-be released fiscal year 2013 state budget. Last Friday, December 9, hundreds came out to testify on behalf of various health and human service programs. Read more here.

The State of Massachusetts is moving ahead in its plan to respond to a top priority of the Obama Administration to implement a cost savings strategy aimed at gaining savings from programs that serve individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.  Yesterday Massachusetts released its draft proposal to combine all Medicare and Medicaid spending and services for adults with disabilities age 21 - 64 years old, including all health care and long-term supports and services (LTSS).  Read our constant contact here.

We received word today that the location for the Boston Public Hearings have changed to the Agganis Arena at BU on 925 Commonwealth Ave. The first step for the public at large in the long budget process begins this week in Northampton. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) will host two public hearings on the upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 budget. The hearings will be held this Friday (12/2) and next Friday (12/9). At 3 PM on 12/2, the hearing will begin at the W. Mass. area office of the Dept. of Mental Health while next week’s hearing will begin at 2pm at Agannis Arena.