The purpose of Medicaid waivers was to move our society away from a system that isolated people with disabilities and toward one that values inclusion, independence, and self-determination. These programs were founded on the belief that individuals should have meaningful choices about their lives and their futures.

Every person deserves the opportunity to choose where they live, who they live near, and the community they wish to be part of. For individuals with disabilities, those rights should be no different. Restricting access to a community like Vanguard Landing sends the wrong message, one that suggests others know better than the individual and their family. I firmly believe that those decisions should remain where they belong: in the hands of the individual and their caregivers. They deserve the respect, autonomy, and freedom to choose the home and community that will allow them to live their best life.