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About VOR
Founded more than 25 years ago in 1983, VOR is a national 501(c)(3) organization governed by a volunteer board of directors and funded solely by dues and donations. We receive no government support.
Throughout its history, VOR has been the only national organization to advocate for a full range of quality residential options and services, including own home, family home, community-based service options, and licensed facilities. We support the expansion of quality community-based service options; we oppose the elimination of the ICFs/MR (institutional) option.
VOR represents primarily individuals with mental retardation and their families/guardians. VOR advocates that the final determination of what is appropriate depends on the unique abilities and needs of the individual and desires of the family and guardians.
Why is a full array of service options is necessary
The disability community is quite diverse, ranging from people with some physical limitations to people whose cognitive and/or physical limitations are so significant that they function at the level of a newborn or an infant. Given the diversity of persons in the developmental disabilities community, a continuum of quality care options is needed to meet the wide range of needs, ranging from family home, own home, other community-based options, to Medicaid-licensed facility-based care (ICFs/MR).
VOR's Legislative and Legal Activities in Support of Choice
VOR monitors state and federal legislative and legal activities. When such actions threaten residential choice, guardianship rights or raise other nationally significant, precedent setting legal issues, VOR responds.Legislative Activities
VOR, independently and in coalition with other organizations, regularly initiates Action Alerts, informational updates, and personal meetings to federally advance its Mission on behalf of people with mental retardation. Issues include, but are not limited to Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security, preservation of choice, access to community living, adequate pay and benefits for direct care workers. VOR's year-round legislative advocacy is complimented by its pinnacle event, the Annual Meeting and Washington Initiative.
In Washington, D.C., event attendees hear from speakers of national prominence, receive training and information from VOR's legislative and government affairs leaders, network with each other, and collectively meet with every member of Congress to share VOR's written presentation. Year-round and during the annual Washington Initiative, VOR leaders are also in regular communication, including personal meetings, with officials representing the Administration. VOR's advocacy on behalf of people with mental retardation is unfettered by profit motive and is loaded with common sense. By focusing its message on choice and family empowerment, VOR has developed a positive relationship with legislators, and other policymakers on behalf of people with mental retardation.
Legal Activities
Justice regarding residential placement options for people with mental retardation is best achieved when those most familiar with the needs of the residents are involved (see, Heller v. Doe, 509 U.S. 312, 328-30 (1993)). Yet, families are often excluded from litigation that will directly impact their loved one's care.
VOR's Choices for a Lifetime, Options for All legal advocacy program minimizes the injustice of excluding families by defending choice and empowering families in the legal system. VOR assists in various ways, as appropriate to each circumstance, including participation as Amicus Curiae, expert witness recommendations, and the provision of pro bono legal support for nationally-significant cases, on a case-by-case basis.
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General Information 
