Your Voice Needed on March 4th

Transcription

1 Your Voice Needed on March 4th Loudoun County has neglected opportunities to help citizens with disabilities achieve a lifestyle just like those of individuals without disabilities. WHAT DO WE WANT? INCREASED FUNDING from the LOUDOUN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS for: èday SUPPORT èsupported EMPLOYMENT èmore VENDORS/PROVIDERS

2 Checklist rmark your calendar for Saturday, March 4 th for the Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing to be held at the Loudoun County Public Schools administrative offices, Education Court in Ashburn. The hearing starts at 9 am and will end when every registered speaker has had a chance to talk. Contact Eileen (eshaffer@paxtoncampus.org or call x208) ASAP if you d like to speak or attend to show support. Eileen is happy to help you plan, write, and edit your speech. A large group here is impactful! rcall in advance to sign up to speak by calling the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors at Advanced sign-ups will be taken until 12:00 noon the day of the meeting. reveryone should contact their Supervisor now to say how concerned you are and what this means for your child. Share photos and personal stories. Eileen is happy to assist with your communication. rknow your facts (included on next page) rconsider bringing your child with you when you present your public comment or encourage your child to selfadvocate and provide his/her own public comment rnot able to attend on March 4 th? Attend a Board of Supervisors meeting and present public comment. Alternative dates are listed at the end of this handout. rthe link to the Board of Supervisors contact info is 2

3 Facts & quotes you WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW can use to make your case We are asking the Board of Supervisors to increase funding for DAY SUPPORT, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, and FUNDING TO ATTRACT MORE VENDORS TO LOUDOUN. Tell them how your adult child is or will be spending their days while on a waitlist and the regression that occurs. No increase in funding for day support and supported employment in 9 years. The current waitlist and low participation rate of citizens with disabilities in the workforce and day support programs is unacceptable. The CSB (Community Services Board) has funding to serve 40 individuals. The current waitlist is 33. Waitlist is numeric. The projections for additional clients for the next four years are 2017=15, 2018=11, 2019=17, and 2020=30. The successful employment experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities working in a variety of jobs have demonstrated work in the community is possible. Fairfax County does not have a waitlist. Graduates are funded as they exit high school. Fairfax supplements the vendor with additional money because the Medicaid Waiver rate does not cover expenses. Venders are not interested in coming to Loudoun County because of the costs. 3

4 Funding should follow the individual. Our community needs more options, Loudoun has 2 (Echo and St. John s). There is a need to develop and expand an array of services provided by Day Support and Employment Support programs, especially personcentered planning to include career exploration and discovery. Fairfax County has a total of 14 vendors who offer day support and/or supported employment The waitlist speaks loud and clear about the desire, interest, and need for day support and employment in the community. Direct your Supervisor to speak with Margaret Graham, Director, of the Loudoun Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Developmental Services at to learn more about funding for day support, supported employment, and incentives to have more than two venders serving Loudoun County. Loudoun has neglected opportunities to help citizens with severe disabilities achieve a lifestyle just like those of individuals without disabilities. Loudoun must ensure that citizens with a disability have the opportunity to be part of the workforce without regard to their level of disability. Educate the Board of Supervisors on the needs for Day Support, Supported Employment, and Options by attracting more vendors. 4

5 YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED Saturday, March 4 9am* The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at 9 am on March 4 th at the Loudoun County Public Schools administrative offices, Education Court in Ashburn. The Board of Supervisors provides time for the public to speak at its regularly scheduled public input meetings, at its business meetings and public hearings. People are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the meetings by calling the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors at Advanced sign-ups will be taken until 12:00 noon the day of the meeting. The need for increased funding for Day Support, Supported Employment, and more options by means of providing more vendors will be HEARD if we have a STRONG showing. Remember to contact Eileen Shaffer at eshaffer@paxtoncampus.org or X208 for assistance and to sign up to join us. 5

6 Options if you can t make it on March 4 th. 1) your Supervisor now, contact info is available at 2) Provide public comment at one of the Board of Supervisors meetings: March 7 th March 23 rd April 4 th Meetings begin at 6 pm and are held at the Loudoun County Government Center at 1 Harrison Street, S.E. in Leesburg. The Board of Supervisors provides time for the public to speak at its regularly scheduled public input meetings, at its business meetings and public hearings. People are encouraged to call in advance to sign up to speak at the meetings by calling the Clerk to the Board of Supervisors at Advanced sign-ups will be taken until 12:00 noon the day of the meeting. Remember to contact Eileen Shaffer at eshaffer@paxtoncampus.org or X208 to sign up and for assistance in preparing your remarks. 6

7 lorem ipsum [Street Address] [City], [State][Postal Code] [Web Address]