"The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia""The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia"Home > Advocacy in Action > Fair Shake Network 2006 Legislative Priorities
The legislation or policy change will allow the money to follow the person, so people who are living in nursing homes or other institutions could have the money "follow" them as they move out into the community with community based services. Whatever amount the state pays the nursing home or institution would "follow the person" to be used in the community to pay for community based services and supports.
Support the DRS/SILC budget improvement package to increase the Independent Living Services budget line item by $500,000. This funding would be used to support independent living services by centers for independent living to serve people on the waiting list and to expand independent living services if funding allows.
Support legislative and policy changes that allow people to receive the services and supports they need to stay in their own communities so they don't end up being moved out-of-state into nursing homes or other more costly out-of-state settings. This would allow West Virginians and their families to stay in West Virginia.
The Fair Shake Network will monitor the Medicaid Redesign process to ensure a focus on quality of life for all West Virginians. We recognize that Medicaid is going to change. Those changes should take a self-determination/directed approach. Personal responsibility should be part of redesign but the State must not infringe on the civil rights of Medicaid recipients.
The Fair Shake Network supports the efforts of the Delegates to the 2005 Youth Disability Caucus to pass legislation to designate the third week of October, each year, as "Disability History Week". This will increase awareness and understanding of public school students, college and university students, teachers, staff, and the general public of the important contributions made by people with disabilities and the importance of the disability rights movement. In turn, it will increase the self-confidence of students with disabilities and increase the tolerance and understanding of all students.
For more information on the Fair Shake Network, please contact:
Posted: February 1, 2006
www.mtstcil.org
