As a mother and the Legally Responsible Individual (LRI) for my disabled child, I am outraged by the ongoing requirement to justify why I, the one who knows my child’s needs better than anyone, should be allowed to be a paid caregiver through Consumer Directed Services. The proposed amendments might sound good on paper, but they slap families like mine with rules that disregard our daily unique challenges.

Let me get this straight—Do you want me to put out an “advertisement” to hire a stranger to care for my child? Someone who will never understand their medical history, daily routines, or sensory triggers the way I do? And then you expect me to conduct interviews for this imaginary candidate who doesn’t exist because no one is lining up to take on this demanding role for the pitiful pay with no benefits. Do you want a job description for the unpaid, back-breaking work you do 24/7? How about an “exhausted mom who is constantly on high alert, administering meds, handling meltdowns, and managing therapy schedules”? Is that good enough for you?

Enough is enough. I’m not jumping through these ridiculous hoops to prove I’m the best person to care for my child. We’ve taken this fight straight to the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), calling out their absurd demands for what they are—a thinly veiled insult to every family already stretched to the limit. It’s one thing to try and “ensure accountability,” but making me submit to this kind of nonsense? It’s demeaning.

We’re not backing down. These documentation requirements aren’t just a waste of time—they’re a slap in the face to every parent trying to do right by their child. We’re demanding that DMAS stop treating us like we’re gaming the system and start respecting us for the caregivers we already are. This is about more than just saving taxpayer dollars—it’s about stopping an unnecessary, dehumanizing process that only adds more stress to families already carrying an unimaginable burden.