There are many barriers for adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD) who want to live more independently in their own residence. Along with the obvious ones such as housing costs and the need for support services, there are also regulatory issues at both state and federal levels.
In particular, Medicaid has proposed restrictions on funding for residential support services based on the grouping or location of housing chosen by an adult with IDD. An “intentional community” such as we are planning for Osprey Village could be viewed as being an “isolating setting” that would face “heightened scrutiny” by Medicaid and our state’s HHS agency.
The CCC strives to address the growing national need for affordable housing and meaningful work for individuals with disabilities by increasing the quality and supply of choices in a broad range of housing, community, and employment opportunities specifically for individuals with IDD. In doing so, CCC members adhere to the following principles:
· Supports and life opportunities for individuals with disabilities should be person-centered and based on their individually defined preferred settings, support needs, and meaningful life goals.
· Quality of support services should be based on the feedback, culture, and personal experiences from individuals being supported, and their families and caregivers, rather than specific physical characteristics of a setting.
· Individuals with disabilities have the human and civil right to choose from the broadest range of home, workplace, and communities supports and settings. Policy should increase options and decrease barriers to affordable housing, meaningful work opportunities, and direct support service professionals.
· The development of home, community, and work opportunities should be driven by the individuals who are and will be receiving support services in those settings.
You can get more information about the CCC on their website. It contains a wealth of information.
