Thanks for reading.

I'm a concerned parent to Richard, a 28-yr old adult with autism, seizures, and other challenges.

Many proposed changes are staring us in the face, and not one of them will result in "better outcomes" for this vulnerable population.  If you don't care for an adult with special needs, you may not know or understand all the challenges we face.  We need support, not more administrative burden.  Our children need compassion, not the possibility of losing important caregiver hours.  

Please take our concerns seriously.  Lack of action now will result in higher costs down the road.

I am concerned about all of it -- 

1. the 56-hour cap on personal assistance ( this amounts to only 8 hours a day.  It's not enough for our population.  Many require around-the-clock care, and also help with all the things :: toileting, dressing, communication, safety, feeding.
2. taking away our service facilitators (many of whom know our children and what their specific needs are, in a relationship that has lasted several months) to replace them with a broker model -- this risks losing so much critical local and specific knowledge!
3. taking away the requirement of DMAS to perform "higher level reviews", which is a built-in safeguard so that services are not easily taken away ----- this seems obvious, but again, it is a proposed change from DMAS.

We, as caregivers, have worked tirelessly to advocate for supports for our grown children.  We are not fudging hours or attempting to defraud the system.  We are tired, and even more tired by the consistent need to prove that our child indeed has a disability and is indeed entitled to supports.  This is basic civil rights!

Please help us.  We count on these services.  Thank you for reading.

Sincerely, 

Jen Tucker

mom to Richard, 28-yrs old

resident of Henrico County