2005 Legislative Budget Priorities

Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding Program

Maintain the current level of funding, which is $340,000.

Background:

The Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Act was passed by both houses of the WV Legislature during the 1999 Legislation Session. It was signed into law by Governor Cecil H. Underwood in April, 1999. The purpose of the Act was to establish a consumer directed, personal assistance services program to meet the needs of individuals with severe disabilities who are not currently receiving such services from any other program.

Ron Yost was an advocate for disability rights in West Virginia for 15 years. He helped write legislation that established the Attendant Care Program operated by the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services and was instrumental in getting it passed. This program was named in memory of Ron Yost by the legislators who sponsored the bill and created it. Ron was an individual with a severe disability himself, a spinal cord injury resulting in quadraplegia. He understood the need for such services and how much difference having an attendant or personal assistant made in the quality of life of a person with a disability and that person's goal of independent living. Ron passed away in January 1997 just as efforts to pass the Personal Assistance Services Act were gearing up for the Legislative Session. He had a great impact on his community (Huntington) and on the disability community across West Virginia.

Fact Sheet

Mountain State Centers for Independent Living is asking the Legislature to continue the $340,000 in the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding line item for FY 2006. This allocation will continue to support the 19 people currently being served by the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Program. The average cost per person is $14,112 per year or $1,176 per month.

What are Personal Assistance Services?

Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding provides funds for people with disabilities to hire personal assistants to help with their personal care and other daily activities of independent living. The program is consumer controlled and consumer directed. The Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding board oversees the program and is composed of seven people with disabilities and two-ex-officio non-voting members, one representing the WV Statewide Independent Living Council and one representing the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services. Members of the board are NOT eligible to receive services from the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding program.

Recipients of Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding are people with severe disabilities who are in need of support and assistance to enable them live in their own homes and communities instead of a nursing home or other restrictive, segregated setting. These services can include, but are not limited to assistance with bathing, cooking, dressing, and housekeeping.

Characteristics of the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services Funding Program:

The person with a disability is the employer of their personal assistant(s) and has the employer responsibilities of hiring, training, supervising, scheduling, paying, terminating (if necessary) their assistant(s), and managing all the employer tax responsibilities.
Eligibility is based on functional need rather than on a medical diagnosis.
Individuals are eligible for Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services only if they are not receiving personal assistance services from a Medicaid program.
A sliding fee schedule was established in order for people with disabilities to contribute to the cost of services based on their ability to do so.

For more information please contact Ann Meadows, Executive Director of the WV Statewide Independent Living Council at 304-766-4624

Updated: February 14, 2005