From Crisis to Stabilization - Thomas' Story

[beyondinclusion]

Thank you, I'll speak with you at the next DDC meeting and hand you documents and information with correct data.

You assume alot of incorrect information about not only me but what I advocate for. (by the way, I have a disability too - you didn't know that)

We have different views on what is right. I believe in individual choice, accountability, sustainabiliy, and quality health and safety. I look foward to meeting with you.

[jmvlemus26]

"This gentleman’s tragic death should in no way cause Washington residents to lose confidence in the transition from state institutions to home and community-based care. We have an excellent record of helping people live safely and successfully in a community setting closer to their homes and families".- susan dryfus letter 10-18-11

[beyondinclusion]

Do you kinow that Susan Dreyfus told me that parents still have a choice to have their child in an RHC - they can send their child OUT OF STATE. How does that fit with the "excellent record of helping people live safely and successfully in a community setting closer to their homes and families?"

I'm sorry but I have had a very different experience than you and can only address from what I experience. Have you experienced living in an RHC?

[jmvlemus26]

Lastly as a person with DD i advocate for RHC's to close because it the right thing to do. think of an RHC as a govt benifit it can go away at anytime.. The move towards community care is whats happening now in washington and many other states who have closed their RHC's 12 i think. Cheryl RHC's in wa will close its only a matter of time you can either get in board and help make sure everything is in place or you can continue to COMPLAIN which doesnt do anyone any good.

[beyondinclusion]

I'm actually not complaining (except about the lack of support in the comnmunity, lack of oversight, lack of stable staff) I'm tryihng to educate.

I am a huge advocate for the community and would never advocate to remove someone from a home in which they are healthy and safe. I'm very sorry that I can not say the same for other advocates in our state.

[jmvlemus26]

first thank god you were not appionted to the DD systems task force!

I did hear about the young man who died today and sadly i know that you and your fellow RHC advocates will use his death wich is a is an isolated incident "that doesnt happen alot in community care" to continue to make your case for RHC care. the number are not incorrect as vice chair of the DDC i have access to alot of updated info.

[beyondinclusion]

I stand behind my commitment to a continuum of care. This is the model which best upholds the U.S. Supreme Court Decision of Olmstead and the US DD Act. It is person centered, individualized and provides choice. Why would a DD advocate be against this?

[beyondinclusion]

More information with accurate data will be evident with the Task force that started today. I believe finally, we may get through some of these problems.

There is not the same care in the community as the RHC community. The fact alone of poor training, high staff turnover, not enough housing for the people already in the communtiy are huge problems. Adding higher acuity residents will only minimize the resources to those already in the community. I don't think anyone wants that.

[beyondinclusion]

There is no cost savings in closing the RHCs and it is not the right thing to do. The right thing to do is a continuum of care - which meets the need of the individual in the least restrictive environment for that individual.

I see that you are also recounting all the jargon of The Arc - this is inaccurate data - read the studies and look at the data yourself and you will find a very different picture than the one you paint.

Did you hear about the young man who died today? A tragedy.

[beyondinclusion]

the numbers you quote and dollar figures are incorrect. You can go to my website for accurate data taken from the actual documents. Those people are not "waiting for services" they may or may be eligible and many recieve services from other DSHS programs.

[jmvlemus26]

there are apprx 13k waiting for DD services and with only around 900 people RHC recieves the most funding. Do you think this is fair? Why should we keep funding insitutional care when its been proven through RCI that people can recieve the same quality of care in the community as they did in the RHC. I dont know if we will agree on this but i really do see SOLA's being the future.

[jmvlemus26]

i did listen to your tape. I have visited with families who have great success stories who have children with your sons disability who live in the community,As far as The Arc advocacy they have always fought for care providers and they work with SEIU alot. RHC's should be closed NOT because of the cost savings but because its the right thing to do. The community service area is getting ramsaked with proposed cuts but yet RHC care gets the most money this is unacceptable.

[beyondinclusion]

Thank you for your comments and I can clearly see that you are able to advocate for yourself. DId you listen to this tape? Do you believe that my son can advocate for himself?

I would love to see The Arc advocate for higher wages for care providers to help stabalize staff, I'd like to see better access to coordinated health care, I'd like to see postive advocacy not advocacy aimed at the group who cannot protect themselves or even know they need to protect themselves.

[beyondinclusion]

I do not appreciate hearing people who do not live in the RHC or who lived there years ago (they NEVER should have lived there) say "CLOSE THE RHCs" when they do not have a clue about the situations of today.

[jmvlemus26]

As a Self Advocate leader in the state DD movement i am appaled that you would make such false allegations against the arc. I have participated in the testimony process many times with the arc and i have NEVER been told what to say. All three self advocacy organizations in our state, People First, SAW, SAIL all direct their own advocacy efforts and have our own voices without any outside input.I believe that you owe the arc and the entire dd movment an apology for your false allegations.