A Message to Persons with Developmental Disabilities and their Families

Three years ago I came to Georgia as the first Director of the Georgia Office of Developmental Disabilities. I made some promises about improving the lives of people with disabilities and kept them. Georgia has moved from a national ranking of 44th in the nation in quality of services to 30th, and today about 3000 more Georgians with developmental disabilities receive services than three years ago. We got our new Medicaid Waivers approved by the federal government effective October 1, 2007, something that many thought impossible. These new Medicaid Waivers allow people with developmental disabilities and their families to fully self-direct the funding – putting the family in charge of where the money goes, not the provider, not the government. We are just waiting on the Department of Community Health billing system changes to be completed as soon as possible, and then we can begin actually using them, month by month, to help your son or daughter.

So while things are getting better, we are still a long way from finished. Too many citizens with developmental disabilities, who didn’t do anything wrong and who are not sick, remain in Georgia’s government-run hospitals and private nursing homes, about 3000 men, women, and yes even children. But, despite roadblocks to success, the federal government has approved our Money Follows The Person Initiative to move more than 600 people back to their communities at considerable taxpayer savings. Americans who haven’t done anything wrong should not live any place but the real community of their choosing. Because you have a developmental disability doesn’t mean you must exist in government institutions, nursing homes, day centers, sheltered workshops, or other disability-only residences, made only for people with disabilities. People with developmental disabilities deserve real homes, real jobs, and lives in the community alongside everyone else with all needed supports.

Over the next three years we plan to significantly improve the quality of services and the new Medicaid waivers will certainly help. If providers perform well, and most will, you can keep your money there, but when they don’t you will be able to leave, with your money, and get good services from another provider. We have many really good providers in Georgia, but this change will hold them accountable to those whose opinion matters most – yours. Although these changes will be very popular with people with disabilities, their families, and truly good providers of services, not everyone will be thrilled with this or any other change that puts the customer’s interest ahead of the provider, bureaucracy, or anyone else. For this reason, I am asking for your continued support for these changes that ensure the wise use of the taxpayer’s dollar with people with developmental disabilities and their families in charge.

During January, February, and March I will be coming to your area of the state to talk about all of these changes with the new waivers, along with other members of the Georgia Office of Developmental Disabilities and to answer as many questions as possible that you may have right there on the spot. Over 225 families have shown up at each of these information forums so far and I sure hope to see you there. Please come. Have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday season.

FROM: Stephen R. Hall, Ph.D., Director Office of Developmental Disabilities