VOR Initiatives

Wave The Flag

Apr 20, 2017 | VOR Initiatives

VOR's George Mavridis asks that you come to D.C. this June to support our Annual Meeting and Legislative Initiative. Read or Download George's Letter Here

Comparative Mortality in Virginia Intermediate Care Facilities and Community Placements

Jul 9, 2015 | VOR Initiatives

Robert Anthony, Ph.D. September 9, 2014 Excerpt Discussion of Findings (emphasis added) Although this is a preliminary analysis and based on the limited data provided by Virginia for a September Work Group, these data are sufficient to derive estimates of Training Center [public Intermediate Care…

VOR’s Mary Reese Testifies About Cruel and Wasteful HHS Funding for Deinstitutionalization

Apr 30, 2015 | VOR Initiatives

On April 29, 2015, Mary Reese, VOR Board Member, represented VOR in testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. Consistent with VOR’s written testimony and the written testimony submitted by many VOR members and…

VOR Submits U.S. Senate Testimony Opposing Federally-Funded Forced Deinstitutionalization By U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agenices

Apr 7, 2015 | VOR Initiatives

Submitted April 2, 2015 to the U.S. Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies VOR strongly believe such forced deinstitutionalization activities are contrary to federal law and cause human harm. These deinstitutionalization activities,…

VOR Submits Senate and House Testimony Opposing Federally-Funded Forced Deinstitutionalization by U.S. Department of Justice

Mar 27, 2015 | VOR Initiatives

Submitted March 24, 2015 to the U.S. Senate Approprations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science and Related Agencies (Similar testimony submitted to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies on April 13, 2015) As explained below, VOR…

Ohio Disability Advocacy Alliance

Jan 5, 2015 | VOR Initiatives

Protecting the Rights of Ohio's Most Vulnerable Citizens The Ohio Disability Advocacy Alliance (DAA) is comprised of volunteer advocates who came together in of support residential and employment choice, and opportunities for day services and programs, for citizens with disabilities. DAA was…

VOR, COFAR and CCMR Team Up to Secure Changes to New Laws

Oct 23, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

October 22, 2014 In a letter sent today, three nonprofit advocacy organizations joined together asking the State Legislature to make important changes to legislation passed recently. VOR, COFAR, and CCMR (Malden, MA) all support access to high quality care across a continuum of care options for…

Facility Closures: A brief history and its impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Oct 14, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

Distributed by: The Greater Salisbury Committee, Inc. October 10, 2014 Related news: State health officials: 'No plan to close Holly Center' (citing James Anzalone's, Former Rosewood Director, Letter) Click here for PDF The Greater Salisbury Committee expresses appreciation to VOR, a national…

Using Social Media to Build an Effective Community to Build Effective Advocacy

Sep 12, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

Source: KnowWho, September 2014 Click here for publication

VOR and the Kentucky Concerned Family Network Respond to Olmstead Compliance Plan

Sep 10, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

September 9, 2014 Detailed comments are here. An Executive Summary follows. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Kentucky Concerned Family Network (KCFN) and VOR appreciate this opportunity to submit comments in response to the draft Kentucky Olmstead Compliance…

VOR Submits Testimony for Record Asking Senate to Prohibit Federal Funding for Forced Deinstitutionalization; Hundreds of Choice Advocates Share Their Support

Apr 28, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

VOR is a national organization that advocates for high quality care and human rights for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). VOR calls on the Senate to prohibit the use of U.S. Department of Justice appropriations in support of deinstitutionalization activities…

VOR Submits Testimony for Record Asking Congress to Prohibit Federal Funding for Forced Deinstitutionalization; Hundreds of Choice Advocates Share Their Support

Apr 16, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

VOR is a national organization that advocates for high quality care and human rights for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). VOR calls on Congress to prohibit the use of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) appropriations in support of…

Home is Where the Heart Is

Apr 3, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

The Coalition for Community Choice (CCC) is a unified voice for increasing options and decreasing barriers to housing choices. By Desiree Kameka, Director of Community Education & Advocacy, Madison House Autism Foundation; and Tamie Hopp, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy,…

VOR Webinar Series: Regional Meetings - The Need for Advocates to Act Global and Local

Mar 20, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

Hosted by VOR's David Hart and Geoff Dubrowksy, VOR's "Regional Meetings: The Need for Advocates to Act Global and Local" Webinar, was held Thursday, March 20 to discuss VOR's new vision for regional meetings between VOR members, families, guardians and like-minded advocates. We discussed the…

Coalition sends letter to CMS re: New "Community" Rule

Mar 6, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

March 5, 2014 A letter signed by 41 organizations, including VOR, was sent this week to Marilynn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Organizations, representing the Coalition for Community Choice, expressed “appreciation of the earnest effort to balance…

Kentucky: Adult abuse registry would protect elderly and disabled

Jan 30, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

The Courier Journal * January 25, 2013 While Kentucky maintains a registry of people found to have abused or neglected children, disability advocates say there is no accessible system to track personal caregivers who abuse, neglect or exploit elderly or disabled adults. Since 2009, the Cabinet for…

Arkansas Legislators hear from families and VOR on importance of family decision-making and choice

Jan 9, 2014 | VOR Initiatives

On January 8, 2014, the Arkansas Legislative Council's Joint Hospital and Medicaid Study Subcommittee considered the value of Arkansas' Human Development Centers (HDCs), publicly-operated Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. In addition to…

VOR's Quality in the Community Initiative

Oct 29, 2013 | VOR Initiatives

In 2013, VOR launched its Quality in the Community Initiative to proactively address the negative outcomes associated with unprepared community settings for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The need for VOR's Quality in the Community Initiative is urgent.…

VOR calls on Long Term Care Commission to support fiscal reason, choice, and staffing standards

Aug 16, 2013 | VOR Initiatives

Update, October 17, 2013 VOR's Response to Commission's Recommendations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- On July 31 and August 16, VOR submitted comments to the Commission on Long Term Care. The Commission was established under Section 643 of American Taxpayer…

VOR Initiatives

Wave The Flag

Comparative Mortality in Virginia Intermediate Care Facilities and Community Placements

VOR’s Mary Reese Testifies About Cruel and Wasteful HHS Funding for Deinstitutionalization

VOR Submits U.S. Senate Testimony Opposing Federally-Funded Forced Deinstitutionalization By U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agenices

VOR Submits Senate and House Testimony Opposing Federally-Funded Forced Deinstitutionalization by U.S. Department of Justice

Ohio Disability Advocacy Alliance

VOR, COFAR and CCMR Team Up to Secure Changes to New Laws

Facility Closures: A brief history and its impact on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Using Social Media to Build an Effective Community to Build Effective Advocacy

VOR and the Kentucky Concerned Family Network Respond to Olmstead Compliance Plan

VOR Submits Testimony for Record Asking Senate to Prohibit Federal Funding for Forced Deinstitutionalization; Hundreds of Choice Advocates Share Their Support

VOR Submits Testimony for Record Asking Congress to Prohibit Federal Funding for Forced Deinstitutionalization; Hundreds of Choice Advocates Share Their Support

Home is Where the Heart Is

VOR Webinar Series: Regional Meetings - The Need for Advocates to Act Global and Local

Coalition sends letter to CMS re: New "Community" Rule

Kentucky: Adult abuse registry would protect elderly and disabled

Arkansas Legislators hear from families and VOR on importance of family decision-making and choice

VOR's Quality in the Community Initiative

VOR calls on Long Term Care Commission to support fiscal reason, choice, and staffing standards

VOR Testifies About Cruel and Wasteful HHS Funding for Deinstitutionalization

VOR Calls National Council on Disability's Toolkit Reckless

Social Media: Connecting choice advocates

Linda Blumkin, J.D. (VOR Member): New York Olmstead Public Forum

VOR's Cristy Dwyer: New York's Olmstead Plan Must Include Choice

VOR and PHA-Sonoma Support California Senate Bill 1522

VOR Submits Federal Comment: Defining "Community"

VOR Submits Federal Comment Urging Independent Oversight of P&As

VOR Submits Written Testimony Supporting Olmstead: U.S. Senate Hearing

Choice Matters: VOR Testifies in New Jersey

VOR Slams Justice Department Plan to Close Virginia Centers for Disabled

VOR Renews Calls for Moratorium on Deinstitutionalization Lawsuits

VOR Seeks Moratorium on Deinstitutionalization Lawsuits

IL-ADD Releases Cost Analysis

Defining "Community" and other HCBS Waiver Proposals: VOR Comments

VOR Submits Federal Comments on Medicaid and Community

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