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Dear Friends and Supporters,
What an incredible and historic year. After decades of YOUR fight -- funding for Priority One has become a reality. While we know there are thousands of people in priorities two and three -- this first step of getting services now for 3,440 people is our only way forward to building a functioning system that can meet the needs of our entire community.
This only happened because all of you stood up, showed up, and made your voices heard. As we look forward, we know we aren't done, but right now, we will celebrate together and take pride in a job well done.
Tonya Milling Executive Director
STATE POLITICS
This year's General Assembly Session adjourned on March 9, 2024, having passed over 2,200 bills. Many of the bills that will impact our community are still awaiting final approval from the Governor, who must sign or veto them by April 8th.
During this long and busy session, our members made a difference, and together, we achieved incredible success in both Legislation and Funding Priorities.
For 2024, The Arc of Virginia, representing our full membership, proposed 2 Bills (both passed) and 6 Funding Priorities (4 passed).
This legislation was in response to the ongoing provider shortage, allowing individuals struggling to find services to retain their waiver slot for up to one year. This Bill has an end date ensuring that Virginia is held accountable to building greater capacity.
It protects families by ensuring that the regulations regarding their ability to provide paid care for their children are reasonable and appropriate.
Funding Wins
Funding for Priority One - 25 years of advocacy -- 3,440 DD Waiver Slots! A historic win for Virginians with disabilities! These slots will roll out on the following schedule:
CL Slots: 172 (FY25) 172 (FY26)
FIS Slots: 1548 (FY25) 1548 (FY26)
Slots will be phased in quarterly within those years.
Increase in Peer Mentor Rates
The only direct service left out of the larger rate increases a few years ago.
Technology Funding
Funding to combine caps for Assistive Technology and Electronic Home Based Services.
Medicaid Works Eligibility
Compromise - Study group formed to make recommendations for next year.
Funding Losses
Stimulate Capacity for Inclusion
Funding to build the capacity of the inclusive services that people on Priority One are asking.
Core Services
This recommendation goes with the funding of priority one; once we stop the bleeding, so to speak -- we must plan for long-term solutions -- core services are intended to do just that.
We have not given up on these last two priorities. We continue to advocate strongly for these essential steps to building an effective, efficient system.
NATIONAL POLITICS
The Arc of Virginia and advocates from across the state are preparing to attend the Disability Policy Seminar, which is an annual federal legislative conference co-sponsored by leading disability advocate organizations: The Arc, Autism Society, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, United Cerebral Palsy, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered, and TASH (the partners).
The Disability Policy Seminar promotes unity and movement building and amplifies the concerns of people with IDD before Congress.
Click below to learn more about the pressing Federal policy issues that we will advocate for on April 10th as we meet with our elected officials in D.C.
Developmental Disability Waiver Wait List - What to Do
Do you have a copy of your DD Waiver application documents?
If you do not, contact your Community Services Board and ask for a copy of your:
VIDES - Does it describe your current functioning?
PRIORITY LEVEL - Are you at the correct Priority Level?
CRITICAL NEEDS SUMMARY - For those in Priority Level 1, is it accurate?
WAIVER SLOT ASSIGNMENT REVIEW—For those being considered by the Committee,
You can find the waiver application documents here.
If your application needs to be updated, contact your Community Services Board.
The Arc of Virginia provides Medicaid Waiver Mentoring - be in touch if you need information or assistance.
Legally Responsible Individuals
As a result of YOUR ADVOCACY, parents of minor-aged children with a CCC Plus or a DD Medicaid Waiver may be eligible to be paid personal care services for their child. Parents are Legally Responsible Individuals (LRI), as are spouses of those with waivers.
We will post updates on The Arc of Virginia’s Facebook as they are known.
SIS Information Session for People with DD Waivers
Since 2015, DBHDS has used the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS)® assessment to determine DD Waiver reimbursement rates for specific services. Recently, the SIS-A® assessment has been renormed. DBHDS and DMAS have been working with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) and a variety of stakeholders on how the updated SIS-A 2nd Edition will impact Virginia.
DBHDS is inviting Families, CSBs, and Providers to learn the outcome of HSRI’s work by attending one of three upcoming informational meetings. The information presented will be the same during each session, but each session will focus on a target audience.
Dates and Joining Links
April 4, 2024, 3:00 – 5:00pm ***Support Coordinators***
Training Alumni Statewide Educational Workshop - Independent Living Part II: Transportation
This workshop will provide information about the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), and describe the different types of transportation services, levels of service that may be offered and ways to locate transportation resources.
In this presentation topics covered include:
Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
GRTC Transportation Options for Persons with a Disability
Introduction to DRPT and the Statewide Funding Program for Human Services Transportation
If you have a disability, are over 21 years old and would like to share your lived experience with Mentees, please contact Natasha atNCooper@thearcofva.org to learn how to become a Peer Mentor & sign up for the next *training!
*Mentor candidates are paid for training
ALLY Alliance
The Alliance is statewide and made up of and led by people with developmental disabilities. The purpose of forming the Alliance was to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities are the primary force for effecting change in Virginia.
The Alliance works to increase the availability of inclusive support for people with Developmental Disabilities by working to influence changes to policy, expectations, and systems
If you are interested in joining the Disability Social Justice Movement in Virginia, contact kshort@thearcofva.org.
Did you know for the last 36 years (& counting), March has been recognized as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM)?
The entire month is dedicated to increasing public awareness and highlighting the achievements of People with Disabilities. While the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits the discrimination of people with disabilities, much work remains to ensure that People with Disabilities are provided every opportunity to live A Life Like Yours!
You can help make that happen. Thanks to the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, an Advisory Group made up of people with developmental disabilities, families and allies came together to create an awareness campaign recognizing that our communities are strongest when places and spaces are welcoming to everyone who lives there. But we know that for many people with disabilities, this is not their experience (or reality). People have been excluded simply because of one part of who they are. The “Are You (in)" campaign believes that everyone can play a part in changing that.
Pledge to be more (In)clusive in your daily life and help change the world!
Encore Showing of Elemental - Tony's Story April 4, 2024 6:30 PM Virtual Showing
The ALLY Alliance has partnered to share these films from the I’m Determined Project, which created a set of films called Elemental. Elemental focuses on the lives of three high schoolers who are experiencing disability in different ways. As they strive to understand their identities and navigate relational barriers and communication misunderstandings, they learn to advocate for their needs in and out of the classroom.
We are seeking knowledgeable, diverse, and experienced speakers who can provide our attendees with information, tools, and inspiration.
Subject areas of interest include but are not limited to Early Intervention, Inclusive Education, Employment, Social Capital, and Individualized services. Most of all, we seek to present INNOVATIVE, NEW, and THOUGHT-PROVOKING information to our members, which challenges us all to grow in our own understanding and practices.
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