This would be a good thing to respond to! TAKE ACTION NOW! The deadline for comments is July 2nd.
Click here: http://ly.adapt.org/Y to tell CMS that HCBS funding should NOT be used to support institutional settings! Its easy and only takes 2 minutes! BACKGROUND Right now, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is deciding on rules about what kinds of places can use funding for home and community-based services. ADAPT demands that CMS use a strong definition of community so that the Community First Choice Option or other home and community-based services funding cant be used to support institutional settings. Although ADAPT and the disability community believe that funding for home and community-based services should be used for services and supports in homes and the community, others like assisted living facilities and providers are pushing back. They want to get these funds and makes decisions that control our lives. WE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO ACCEPT OR COMPLY WITH SERVICES TO GET OR KEEP OUR HOUSING! People without disabilities do not have their housing conditioned on whether or not they accept services. Therefore, housing rights for people with disabilities should be entirely separated from services that a person may or may not need or want. WE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO GIVE UP OUR LEGAL RIGHTS IN HOUSING TO GET THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WE NEED! People without disabilities are afforded the protections (and assume the responsibilities) from eviction under tenant-landlord law. Therefore, people with disabilities should have the same rights, protections and responsibilities. WE SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO LET PROVIDERS MAKE FUNDEMENTAL DECISIONS ABOUT OUR LIVES TO GET THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS WE NEED! People without disabilities have an absolute right, wherever they reside, to the following: - A lease under the State's landlord tenant law protecting against illegal evictions. - Privacy in sleeping and living units. This means a lockable entrance. - Sharing units only if person with disability freely and knowingly wants to share and with person of one's choice. - Right to decorate sleeping and living units. - Control own schedules and access to food at any time. - Visitors of their choosing at any time. - Physically accessible. Therefore, if a person with a disability resides in a "provider-owned or controlled residential setting," the SAME rights should be required. People without disabilities would not consider it their "home" if they did not have these protections. People with disabilities shouldn't be entitled to less because we have disabilities and need services and supports to be independent, and CMS should not to fund services in settings that do not comply. TAKE ACTION!!! Go to http://ly.adapt.org/Y to TAKE ACTION! If you are submitting your comments on behalf of an organization, please note what organization you are submitting on behalf of and describe the organization. If you are submitting comments as an individual, please share a personal story about why home and community-based services and supports are important to you. Talk about your right to choose whom to live with and how to live. Give details about your ability to control your own schedule and have visitors when you want. Just be sure to take action BEFORE JULY 2ND! NATIONAL ADAPT MAILING LIST - Adapt Community Choice Act List http://www.adapt.org !
