"The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia""The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia"Home > Advocacy in Action > West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council 2007 Legislative Priorities
"To ensure persons who have disabilities have access to community-based resources that promote personal choice and facilitate the achievement of their independent living goals."
Under the State Plan for Independent Living, the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) will "monitor state and federal legislation that may impact people with disabilities, act on matters needing immediate attention, and coordinate its advocacy efforts with other groups, agencies, and associations".
On December 6-7, 2006, many groups working on disability related issues presented their legislative priorities to the Statewide Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council during a joint meeting. The issues presented were discussed and considered and the following SILC priorities were established. The SILC will monitor any other legislation and/or issues that may affect the lives of West Virginians with disabilities; will support legislation that promotes independent living and the implementation of the Olmstead Plan and oppose legislation that does not; and oppose any budget cuts that would harm or reduce programs and services for West Virginians with disabilities.
Independent Living Services are provided by four centers for independent living (CILs) with funding through a line item in the Division of Rehabilitation Services budget. CILs serve 20 counties with full services and an additional seven with limited services. This leaves 28 counties, and nearly half of the over 410,000 West Virginians with disabilities without access to independent living services. In the served counties, there are approximately 400 individuals on a waiting list for services. The SILC supports the improvement package submitted by the Division of Rehabilitation Services for a $500,000 continuing increase to the independent living services line item to address the waiting list and to expand services into unserved areas as funding allows.
Increase Funding for Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services The SILC supports the improvement package submitted by the Division of Rehabilitation Services for a $200,000 continuing increase, at minimum, to the funding for the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services (RYPAS) Program. The waiting list for the program continues to grow and funding should be increased to a level which will accommodate those individuals. This will ensure current recipients of the program and those on the waiting list have adequate services to remain in their own homes rather than moving into nursing home care. Currently, individuals from the waiting list are only moved onto the program when a current recipient dies or experiences a change in their living situation that eliminates their need for services.
The SILC supports legislation to continue the parity provisions for insurance coverage of mental health care services. Legislation passed in 2002 established parity but the provisions will expire on March 31, 2007 unless a bill is passed to continue them.
The SILC supports legislation and /or policy changes that will allow funding to follow individuals with disabilities from institutional services to community-based services and supports. This will assist the State in complying with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as upheld by the Olmstead Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. Additionally, restructuring the system to allow the movement of funding from institutional, segregated settings to community-based services and supports in the "most integrated setting" is cost effective because it reduces or eliminates the need for new funding.
The SILC supports budget appropriations that will assist with expanding the state's network of centers for independent living (CILs) to ensure all West Virginians have access to independent living services. Current state funding is inadequate and federal funding is at the maximum level. Currently, only 27 counties have access to one of the four CILs in the state. Funding is needed to enable the CILs to expand to cover the additional 28 counties.
The SILC recognizes the on-going budget concerns in the State however, the budget should not be balanced by compromising the independence of citizens with disabilities and reducing the State's ability to comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act as upheld the Olmstead Decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. The following programs should be protected from budget cuts and/or increased or reinstated:
Under the State Plan for Independent Living, the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) will monitor state and federal legislation that may impact people with disabilities, act on matters needing immediate attention, and coordinate its advocacy efforts with other groups, agencies, and associations. On December 6-7, 2006, many groups working on disability related issues presented their legislative priorities to the Statewide Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council during a joint meeting. The issues presented were discussed and considered and the SILC priorities were established.
Under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, funds may be used "to conduct studies and analyses, gather information, develop model policies and procedures, and present information, approaches, strategies, findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Federal, State, and local policymakers in order to enhance independent living services for individuals with disabilities".
West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council
Ann Watts McDaniel, Executive Director
PO Box 625, Barron Drive, C-Building
Institute, WV 25112-0625
304-766-4624 (voice/TDD)
fax: 304-766-4721
www.wvsilc.org
ann.meadows@wvsilc.org
www.mtstcil.org
