Disability Rights-Hear our Voice

Why should a Self Directed program be changed by people who arent even involved on a personal level? These people that depend on these services are in a delicate state mentally and shouldn't have to worry about drastic changes being made to their lives from people who will not be affected by it on such a intense level.

Self-directed services benefit participants whose needs don't fit the mold of outside service providers. They also save taxpayer's money. We ask that you reverse all changes and return the SDS model to it's own separate waiver. Let SDS participants and families have a voice and a presence in their own care.

Change is good but if it hurts and doesn't' serve the needs then it's not a good change. Not everyone fits into the same category.

No way we will submit to this kind of cruelty on our kids whose lives are transformed due to Self Direction program . I say no to any negative changes made to this wonderful program.

Please save the DDA self-directed waiver!

I am an advocate

Please uphold the rights of families with special needs members to direct their own services. It is imperative that families be allowed to make choices that meet the needs of their special needs adult.

My Son who is 26 years old has been on self directed services for about 2 years, the reason why self directed services were a choice to him was because of the horrible abuse he suffered under the day program he attended, I had to drive to DDA almost every week for about 6 months with my son to show them the bruises on his body and the obvious agony of my child who is not aggressive and couldn't defend himself. He is now so happy and is very active in the community and is care for family members who loves him and care for him. I can't believe that DDA would implement a law that would not meet his needs and could be a disaster for my son. I don't trust no one to take care of my son he has suffered enough and DDA didn't even punished the center where the incidents happened and is not fair that they can just do whatever and not hear our voices and concerns. I agree with all of you the self directed program works!!

For my nephew's rights.

Don't fix what isn't broken!

Equal rights for all are always important. Everyone who is able should have control over their own life.

Please don't try to fix something that isn't broken! Our kids are thriving on the SDS program where day programs just can't give them the life they deserve and struggle for. Help us keep our families together. We've struggled all their lives to try to make life as normal as possible. SDS does help! It takes a lot of heart, patience, love to help our kids live a meaningful life. SDS makes it a little more attainable. If you could live it then you could appreciate all that SDS does for our kids! Please don't take what's working for our kids away from them.

The purpose was for our children to become "self directed" This is denying them the right to decide and making life so much more complicated and difficult for every person involved. Has the purpose changed? Will our children be reduced to an institution making decisions for them? This is a huge step backward for our families.

You are hurting us.

There are also changes being proposed to other areas of the waiver. For example, Supported Employment may no longer be able to be self-directed. Other services that had previously been allowed under the New Directions Waiver may also no longer be able to be self-directed. Personal Supports will no longer be under the Waiver, but under Community First Choice. Instead of the seamless delivery system he has now, his services would have to be broken up into using an agency for one service, staff he chooses under SDS for limited services, and then having to use a whole different system for personal supports. This will make it way too complicated and cumbersome. We have enough to do as it is to manage my son's services. This is the last thing that we need : more complication and more work, relying on agencies and strangers to get the same services we have now. Instead of making this a “more flexible, person-centered, family oriented system of supports”, as is the DDA’s intention, it will accomplish the opposite. My 25 year old son has thrived under self-directed services. He has the life he wants and he is happy. He has wonderful, caring, consistent people that have been with him for years. These choices should not be taken away and our lives should not be further complicated.

All Lives Matter!

This seems like a solution in search of a problem. The families who are making the current system work deserve support and encouragement, not more regulation and fewer choices.

Let well enough alone!!!!!

Our adult daughter with disabilities should be able to hire whomever she chooses, including her parents or other relatives living at home, as long as regulations are followed. Most adults with disabilities who live in the community live at home with their parents. Not allowing them to hire their parents if they choose forces parents to spend hours coordinating Self-Directed Services for their adult children without any remuneration. Among those parents least able to do this for their adult children are those who are less affluent. Some would be forced to send their adult children to agencies. Our daughter is one of those who does not fit neatly into an agency and who does not have parents who can donate an incredible number of hours for an SDS program with regulations that are often geared more toward agencies than families. Our daughter is thriving in SDS. If some parents do a poor job or take advantage, it's the DDA's job to address it. Don't eliminate a choice that works for our adult children to avoid dealing with and confronting those families.

Part of my obligation as a parent of a developmentally disabled individual is to support and advocate on her behalf. She has a right to choose. She chose to Self direct. I support her. Honor that choice...Take SDS out of Amendment 2.