West Virginia State Independent Living Council Disability Policy Priorities and Strategies

At the December 2, 2009 SILC meeting, representatives from West Virginia Centers for Independent Living (WVCIL); West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC); West Virginia Olmstead Council; West Virginia Mental Health Consumers Association (WVMHCA); and the Fair Shake Network (FSN) presented their disability policy priorities and worked with SILC members in small groups to develop strategies for those priorities. The issues and strategies agreed upon were:

West Virginia CILs:

Issue: Cuts to State IL Funding

Talk to friends, neighbors, etc. who have benefitted from IL services
Develop IL Fact Sheet and make available to SILC members
Public Hearing to receive testimony on the impact of budget cuts

All Issues Including IL Funding and Supported Employment Extended Services Funding, Olmstead Plan Implementation, AD Waiver Quality Assurance, and RYPAS Funding

Work with legislature to restore the funding
Use WVCIL telephone tree or e-mail list to distribute information
Get personal stories to share with legislators
Mountain State CIL and Appalachian CIL will help provide transportation to the Capitol for SILC members to visit legislators

Olmstead Council:

Issue: Olmstead Plan Implementation

Recommendations need to cite Olmstead Council Mission and the Executive Order 11-05
Distribute materials on Olmstead issues to stakeholders and policymakers
Personal stories from Council members and the Transition Navigator program to share with policymakers
Develop joint document with common goals supported by disability/advocacy organizations

Fair Shake Network:

Issue: Cuts to State IL Funding

Public meeting/hearing to receive testimony on the impact of budget cuts
Develop fact sheet on IL funding cuts and impact

Issue: Olmstead Plan Implementation

Work with the DDC, Olmstead Council, WVCIL, and FSN on a meeting to strategize on Olmstead and make sure we are all saying the same thing

Issue: Limitations on administration of medications by AMAPs to residential settings

Continue AMAP group meetings to provide recommendations and strategize

Issue: Other issues including Waiver waiting lists, Eliminate institutional bias, Close ICF/MR group homes, Eliminate Out of State Placement, Development of TBI services and/or TBI waiver

Write letters/e-mails to legislators - provide sample letters as guide
Utilize CapWiz or something similar
Find ways to reach the general public and increase awareness
Put fact sheets and position papers on www.mtstcil.org - all in one location where anyone can print them off
Collaborate with WVCIL using CLSP (Community Living Services Program) annual report and fact sheet
Advocate for rebalancing the system

Developmental Disabilities Council:

Issue: Aged and Disabled Waiver Waiting List

Advocate for revisions to screening tool and eligibility process

Issue: Olmstead Plan Implementation

Consider lawsuits to protect people from practices that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Olmstead Decision

Issue: Lack of Resources for Adult Dental Care

Build a coalition with the WV Dental Association and other interested parties
Conduct a study to determine how many people don't have access to dental care, to identify long term health care cost savings of providing dental care, and projected utilization of a program to provide adult dental care

All Issues

We have to know the key people in administrative positions
Ask what happens to people while they wait for services
Have a clear agenda - bullet points and backup information - when we meet with key people and with legislators
Speak to specific bills

WV Mental Health Consumers Association:

Issue: Supported Employment should be based on individual need and funding should be increased

Create e-mail list and phone list to keep SILC members informed
Provide link to CapWiz

Issue: Lack of Access to Addiction Treatment

Advocate for increased access to more long term addiction treatment
Provide e-mail updates
WVMHCA provide their position statement

Issue: Protect Due Process Rights in Involuntary Treatment Process

Develop fact sheet explaining need to keep due process rights in place

Issue: Out-of-State Placement of children and adults

Provide e-mail and telephone updates
Advocate for use of existing resources to provide in-state placement/services

Issue: Lack of Access to Health Care

Advocate for Parity to be protected
Advocate for access to long term care

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