"The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia""The Virtual Center for Independent Living for West Virginia"Home > Advocacy in Action > WV Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Legislative Priorities for 2008
2008 Legislative Priorities for FY 2009 Budget
The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) requests an improvement of $450,000 to expand the availability of community-based services in integrated settings to West Virginians with disabilities. This would require the creation of a new line item in DRS' General Revenue Budget Appropriation titled Community-Based Service Development.
This funding request will enable DRS to collaborate and partner with community rehabilitation programs and other community providers to develop and expand the availability of community-based assessments, direct placement, employment readiness training, supported employment, job coaching and other services. DRS commonly purchases services to assist individuals with disabilities to achieve successful employment outcomes. This allocation will be used for development and expansion to meet critical service needs in some West Virginia communities.
DRS requests a continuing improvement of $50,000 for the Employment Attendant Care Program. The Employment Attendant Care Program provides funding assistance to 16 working West Virginians with severe disabilities to pay for personal/attendant care services so they can work. Collectively, these individuals earn more than $417,000 in wages per year and pay taxes on this income. Due to the increase in the minimum wage, DRS will not be able to provide a full year of attendant care services to these16 working individuals at the current funding level.
A continuing improvement of $200,000 is requested for the Ron Yost Personal Assistance Services (RYPAS) line item in the DRS budget, bringing it to $540,000, to expand the availability of personal assistance services to West Virginians with severe disabilities. The purpose of West Virginia's RYPAS program is to provide consumer-directed personal assistance services to meet the needs of individuals with severe disabilities who are not currently receiving such services from any Medicaid program.
A continuing improvement of $476,000 is requested for the Independent Living Services line item in the DRS budget, bringing it to $500,000, to expand the availability of independent living services to West Virginians with disabilities. The purpose of West Virginia's Independent Living Services Program is to ensure that West Virginians with disabilities have equal access to the resources and supports they need to live self-determined, independent lives in their own homes and communities.
During the 2008 Legislative Session, DRS will continue to support and endorse other legislative initiatives that enable and empower individuals with disabilities to work and to live independently in the community.
www.mtstcil.org
