To whom it may concern,

Please consider revising the proposed redefinition of Group Home in the Rules and Regulations for Licensing Facilities and Providers to remove the phrase “who do not live in the home,” from the descriptions of persons who provide direct care.  My daughter has worked in L’Arche Greater Washington, DC, a provider with two homes in Arlington, VA for years, where the model of service provision is centered on the people with intellectual disabilities and the direct support providers sharing life together in the home. The care provided at L’arche is exceptional, primarily because the strength of the relationships of those with and without disabilities is so strong. The people with disabilities and their guardians specifically choose L’Arche because of this model. The proposed change would drastically and negatively impact the option of this choice.

Thank you for considering my comment.

Respectfully,

Roslyn Barry