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The personal side of the reason I'm posting all sorts of quesitons about the budget issues for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

My son, 21 years old, who experiences many labels (autism, Down syndrome, nonverbal, celiac disease) is attending his last day of a "Free and Appropriate Education" today. This education has been compromised not only by a district whose systems are 15 years behind the current best practices for students similar to my son, but has been battling budget cuts since the day he entered Early intervention services 21 years ago.

As he enters adult hood, he is fortunate to already be served by a Medicaid Waiver to assist with his supports through the brokerage system (fiscal intermediary for Medicaid Waivers). However, any of his classmates who have not completed this process will leave school with NO additional supports. 

The burden placed on families is high. I've not been able to work as a "traditional employee" due to the needs of my son and the need to advocate and support his schooling. Therefore, I earn approximately 50% of my potential - if that.  Families whose children do not have supports will not be able to work at all. 

Yes, we have some tough decisions to make. 

Barbara Robers was right when we passed Measure 5 - an abysmal mistake - that this would lead to the destruction of the human services system.

posted 3 years ago
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One of the line items in the budget cuts for Seniors and People with Disabilities includes the draining the $12M from the Staley Settlement Fund. Up to this point, this fund has only paid out it's earned interest to the benefit of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. How does the state justify taking this money - hard won through the courts for an underserved population - and using it for the general fund - rather than allowing it to remain earmarked to benefit the people for whom the settlement addressed?

For those who do not know, the Staley settlement is the result of a class action suit brought by Karen Staley on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reduce the waiting list for services for adults. Oregon has chosen to provide more people with service -though not always enough to build a quality life - and reduce the waiting list to one of the shortest in the US. This will no longer be the case.

Joan

posted 3 years ago
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