TCDD 2010 Texas Biennial Disability Report Published

[Guest guest]

2010 Texas Biennial Disability Report Includes Recommendations to Enhance Services for People with DisabilitiesAs the number of Texans with disabilities continues to increase and people live longer, the state needs to expand services and make supports more flexible to meet individual needs, according to a new report on the status of disability services. TCDD recently submitted the legislatively required 2010 Texas Biennial Disability Report to state leadership, which makes 20 recommendations to improve long-term services and supports (LTSS) while using state resources more efficiently. This report was designed as a tool to help policy makers, advocates and others understand the scope of needs, services and supports for Texans with disabilities and as a guide for future policy development and decision making procedures. Although Texas has made incremental steps to improve some aspects of service delivery, TCDD’s overall assessment of the performance of the developmental disabilities service system concludes that: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Texas do not have access to services with reasonable promptness;Many people with I/DD do not receive services within the least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs; andThe state’s service system for people with developmental disabilities is not operated in a manner that promotes efficiency and economy.TCDD recognizes the current fiscal realities the state is facing and recommends that the 82nd Texas Legislature de-emphasize the use of institutional services in favor of home and community-based services waiver options to achieve greater cost efficiencies.Other key recommendations include: Expand the capacity of the community services system at a steady pace by serving a minimum of an additional 4,604 people each year through 2018 in HCBS waivers for individuals with developmental disabilities.Ensure that the Community Safety Net of community support services has the capacity to meet the needs of all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Address insufficiencies in payment rates for community care services to ensure a stable, high quality community service system.Use home-based services as the primary tool for addressing service demand. Reduce the number of people served at state supported living centers. On a biannual basis, review and use data on the types of services selected by individuals with disabilities when they are offered Medicaid waiver supports to more efficiently fund future long-term supports based on consumer needs. The 2010 Texas Biennial Disability Report is available online at http://www.txddc.state.tx.us/resources/publications/biennial_report/2010biennial/2010biennialreport.pdf. To request a print copy, visit the TCDD website, contact Rosser at 1- or or write to: Texas Council for DD, 6201 E Oltorf, Suite 600; Austin, TX 78741-7509. TCDD Home | Change Your Profile | Manage Your Subscription Follow TCDD on Facebook and Twitter RosserPublic Policy AssistantTexas Council for Developmental DisabilitiesOffice: Fax: www.txddc.state.tx.usWe are on Twitter and Facebook!