FW: Action Alert

[Guest guest]

Action Alert: Thank You & Continue Efforts to Protect

Community Based Medicaid Waiver Services and Supports

ACTION: Write Letters to Governor's Staff by December 31, 2010.

Address

your letter to Yoder (.Yoder@...). In

addition, send a copy of your letter to The Arc of Texas at actnow@....

THANK YOU!

First

of all, thank you to everyone who took the time to write letters in

response to our October 15th Action Alert urging individuals to

share their stories with Governor and the Texas Legislature regarding

the proposed budget cuts. [see below for information regarding the

proposed budget cuts.]

We

received over 100 personal stories from self-advocates, their

loved ones, and professionals illustrating the devastating effects these

budget cuts would have on people with intellectual and developmental

disabilities their loved ones. The Arc of Texas, with your

permission, shared every story that was sent to the governor with the

respective State Representatives and Senators. In addition, we made visits

with the Lt. Governor’s Office, the Speaker of the House, as well as

members of key budget committees.

Your letters sent

a powerful message and got the attention of the Texas Legislature.

WE NEED MORE!

Unfortunately,

this is just the beginning. We will need to continue to ensure the Texas

Legislature understands the impact these cuts could have on the lives of

individuals with disabilities, their loved ones, and the community.

Please ask your neighbors, friends, family members, etc. to write a

letter. We need to let our voices be heard!

THE

MESSAGE:

“Maintain current DADS community based services!! Fund DADS Exceptional

Items 1, 2 AND 3! Any cuts to DADS services would be DEVASTATING to

individuals with disabilities and their families.”

Address

your letter to Yoder (.Yoder@...). In addition,

send a copy of your letter to The Arc of Texas at actnow@....

Information

to include in your letter:

Your name and address

Your affiliation with The Arc

of Texas (i.e. “I have been a volunteer with The Arc of Texas

for 25 years…”)

How long you or your loved one was

on the waiting list

What life was like for

you/your loved one during the waiting period (details are important

here!)

What program you/your loved

one currently receives

How the program

services and supports make your/your loved one’s life more meaningful

(details are important here!)

Describe what you/your

loved one would have to endure if services were cut after having

waited so long; how devastating it be to you/your

loved one (i.e. it would be devastating

AND I would go into a more expensive institution, lose my

job, lose my home, lose my

marriage)

BACKGROUND

INFORMATION

As

of today, state agencies have submitted proposed budgets (“Legislative

Appropriations Requests”) to state leadership offices. Those proposed

budgets, as you know, will assist those members in writing the state budget

for Fiscal Years 2012-2013.

The

Arc of Texas is especially concerned with the proposed budget submitted by

the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) because it

does not include funds to serve 13,368 individuals who are currently

receiving Medicaid Waiver services or are expected to receive Medicaid

Waiver services by the end of FY11.

DADS

is not at fault; they were simply following budget writing instructions

from leadership offices. However, it is now critical that the Legislature

fully-fund DADS Exceptional Items #1, 2 and 3 (“wish list” items outside the

proposed budget) in order to MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICES at the agency. If

these Exceptional items are not funded, over 13,000 are at risk of losing

the precious community based services and supports they receive through the

Medicaid Waiver Programs.

Medicaid

Waiver Programs provide valuable, individualized community based services

and supports to persons with disabilities. These programs include:

Home

and Community Based Services Program (HCS)

Community

Living and Support Services (CLASS)

Deaf

Blind with Multiple Disabilities (DBMD)

Texas

Home Living (TXHML)

Medically

Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP)

Community

Based Alternatives (CBA)

Given

Texas Legislators will be addressing a $25 billion shortfall as they write

the state’s next budget, it is CRITICAL that you share your personal story

and ask members to ensure DADS services are maintained. After having

waited for these services for 10, 11 and 12 years, it would be devastating

to have those services taken away from you.

We need

you to write letters today!