Respite exists to provide relief to primary caregivers. Currently, LRIs are not allowed to be attendants without first proving that they have a need to hire a live-in attendant. If a parent of a minor child is unable to find someone willing to do the job on a regular basis, the state understands they may need to fill the position themselves. But taking away respite from the client because their parent is a paid caregiver is vindictive and directly harms both the client and the caregiver. Respite is a lifeline for parents. They have to be able to take breaks for their own mental health in order to continue providing the level of the care the individual requires. By taking respite away when LRIs are attendants, the state has created additional barriers for families who already have to fight for every single accommodation they receive. This has prevented many people from receiving the care they deserve and will continue to harm Virginians until rectified. These services exist to support individuals who need it and the state is now using those services to punish parents who can't find outside care for their medically fragile children. 

The education requirement for Service Facilitators is another prohibiting factor for individuals in Virginia to receive the services they need. Someone with a Bachelor's degree in IT Security is not somehow more qualified to fill the position than someone with no higher education who has experience working with disabled individuals. SF companies across the state are shutting down and individuals can't receive services because there aren't enough Service Facilitators. And yet, it is a requirement that individuals have an SF in order to receive waiver services. For quantitative proof that this is a dire problem in the state, ask Moms in Motion how many of their clients have expired authorizations and how many people they have waiting for intakes. If the public knew the answer, they would be rioting in the streets. 

Consumer-directed services are in death throes right now. Catastrophe is on the horizon. Virginia has an obligation to act before consumer-directed services pass the point of no return and Medicaid waiver recipients are left to fend for themselves.