VOR Comments to ACL Proposal Supporting Family Caregivers
VOR has submitted comments to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on its proposal supporting family caregivers.
VOR Comments to the Republican Caucus in the House Energy & Commerce Committee
The Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee submitted a policy statement recently and asked for the public to submit comments. VOR found several points of agreement, and several policies that we believe should be expanded to ensure that they cover the needs of the entire community of people with I/DD, not only those who receive waiver services or participate in competitive integrated employment.
To view the E&C Republicans' policy statement, click here.
To view VOR's comments, please click here.
To view our supplementary materials, click on the links below.
VOR Letter Supporting Parent Caregivers
Due to the shortage of Direct Support Professionals during the Covid Pandemic, the State of Oregon responded to the public health emergency by paying parent caregivers to stay home and provide care for their family membrs with I/DD and autism. As these provisions are set to expire soon, families have reached out, requesting that this program be made permanent.
VOR wrote a letter in support of this initiative, as this extends the choices that families may make in caring for their loved ones. Read VOR's letter supporting family caregivers here.
VOR Supports the Coalition for the Preservation of 14(c)
VOR has recently joined forces with the Coalition to Protect 14c, a group of advocates dedicated to preserving employment opportunities for people with I/DD for whom competitive integrated employment may not be an option.
The Coalition has recently released a white paper outlining their position, and VOR members have been actively engaged in meeting with congressional staffers in support of the preservation of these employment opportunities for people with I/DD and Autism.
David Axelrod's Letter to NY Times, July 4, 2021
On July 4, 2021, David Axelrod wrote guest essay to the NY Times entitled "When It Comes To People Like My Daughter, One Size Does Not Fit All".
The link to Mr. Axelrod's letter may be found here.
VOR - MFP Letters to the Senate Finance Committee
In March, 2020 VOR's Legislative Committee sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, asking for an opportunity to provide testimony from families whose loved ones’ interests, health and welfare are directly impacted by the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Program.
VOR continues to speak out about the shortcomings of MFP, and the manner in which it has been used to undermine Intermediate Care Facilities and to deny individuals and families their right to choose ICF care.
