PETITION SO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE CHOICE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY NOW! To: Governor Rick Perry Lt. Governor David Dewhurst Speaker of the House Tom Craddick Representative Larry Phillips, Chairman of the House Select Committee on State Schools Representative Garnett Coleman, Chairman of the Democratic Study Group on State Schools Senator Jane Nelson, Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Committee Senator Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Finance Committee Representative Patrick Rose, Chairman, House Human Services Committee Representative Warren Chisum, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee WE, individuals who have signed this petition, call upon each of you to develop/SUPPORT legislation during the 81st Texas Legislative Session that will RESULT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH disabilities residing in State “Schools” (INSTITUTIONS) HAVING A REAL CHOICE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE MOST INTEGRATED AS PER FEDERAL LAW. THIS CAN BE DONE BY: 1. Ensuring everyone CHOOSING to leave STATE INSTITUTIONS has every opportunity to do so WITH A PLANNING PROCESS THAT PRESUMES COMMUNITY IS THE APPROPRIATE CHOICE; 2. That APPROPRIATED public funds follow these individuals into the community; 3. Fully fund the OVER 100,000 PERSON WAITING LISTS FOR ALL MEDICAID WAIVER PROGRAMS; 4. Immediately halt all admissions of children to any state institution; 5. Immediately transition children currently residing in state institutions to community living options with STATE MONEY FOLLOW THE PERSON FUNDING; 6. Direct the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) to develop a plan to consolidate state institutions; 7. CREATE AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY TO MONITOR state institutions; 8. Develop an independent advocate system to ensure those individuals who are their own guardian and reside in a state institution have the support they need to make decisions regarding community placement.

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