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January 3, 2025

VOR's Weekly News Update

VOR is a national non-profit organization

run by families of people with I/DD and autism

for families of people with I/DD and autism.

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VOR & YOU:

VOR's Winter Networking Meeting

January 27, 2025

4 pm Eastern / 3 pm Central / 2 pm Mountain / 1 pm Pacific


On Zoom

The topic for this meeting will be

Addressing the challenges and opportunities of the Second Trump Administration

and the 119th Congress


You must be a member of VOR to attend this meeting.


To register,

Please Click Here


You will receive confirmation of your registration.

A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to you shortly before the event.

Please join us on Capitol Hill


May 12-14, 2025

VOR's Annual Legislative Initiative

Washington, D.C.

We will meet in D.C. on May 12th - 14th

for meetings with

Congressional Staff and Federal Regulatory Agencies

to discuss issues of critical importance to

individuals with severe or profound I/DD and autism

and their families.


This event is open to all members of VOR

Please register early, to reserve your spot


Registration is free until February 1, 2025

So please register now!


To register for the Legislative Initiative,

Please Click Here

Take Action!


The Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division has issued a proposed role in the Federal Register that would phase out the use of Commensurate Wages under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.


There is a comment period from now until January 17th, and we ask our members to send comments to the Wage & Hour Division to express your opposition to this rule and your support of 14(c) provisions for people with intellectual disabilities and autism.


To download the document from VOR's website, please click here

To post a comment opposing this rule, please click here

National News:

The 119th Congress


The 119th Congress was sworn in today, and we congratulate Mike Johnson of Louisiana won the vote to lead the new Congress as Speaker of the House.


Our work begins, again.

More Than 300 Organizations Urge New Congress to Protect and Strengthen Medicaid

Medicaid Covers 80 Million Americans and Serves as the Backbone for the Health System We All Rely On

Press release from Families USA, January 3 ,2025


As the 119th Congress is sworn in today, 334 national, state and local organizations called on Congressional leadership to protect, preserve and strengthen Medicaid, which covers 80 million Americans and is the backbone of the health system on which we all rely. While President-elect Trump said, including in an NBC interview last month and elsewhere, that he would not cut entitlements like Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security, the consumer advocacy organization Families USA spearheaded the letter in response to some House and Senate Republicans proposing to restrict, cut or cap Medicaid coverage in order to pay for extending tax cuts.


After an election where Americans sent a clear message to lower costs — for groceries, rent and health care, the letter argues that the last thing Congress should do is to cut or cap Medicaid, which would raise costs and limit access to health care for the millions of Americans who need it.


“During the 2024 election cycle, cutting Medicaid was not a budget solution that American families asked for — and doing so now would betray your constituents of all political affiliations who are seeking more economic security, not less,” stated the organizations in their letter. “Cutting Medicaid would shift costs and administrative burdens onto working class families, states and health systems.”


They continued, “Proposals to cap funding, reduce the federal share of Medicaid spending, establish block grants, institute work reporting and community engagement requirements, cut state revenue from provider taxes or otherwise undermine the fundamental structure of the Medicaid program all have the same effect: If instituted, Americans will lose access to lifesaving services, states will be strapped with massive budget holes, hospitals and clinics will lose revenues and be forced to scale back services, and American families and workers will be unable to afford essential care and get sicker — leading to a loss in productivity and the economy suffering as a result.”


Medicaid serves nearly 80 million Americans, including 37 million children, and covers 40% of all births. Medicaid provides health and economic security for patients, families, and communities. Ensuring continuous coverage through Medicaid keeps people healthy, enabling them to work and contribute to their communities and to the overall economy. Medicaid is also a major funding source for hospitals and clinics that we all rely on.


Families USA along with the undersigned stand ready to work together on those solutions that will provide relief to those struggling with health costs, but shredding the health care safety-net would have the opposite impact on American families.


Click here to read the press release


VOR is proud to be one of the organizations that have signed on to this letter.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Members Call DOL’s Drastic 14(c) Rulemaking “Inappropriately Rushed”

Press Release from House Committee on Education and the Workforce, December 31, 2024


Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and several Republican committee members today are pushing Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to extend the public comment period for the Department of Labor’s (DOL) misguided and irresponsible rule proposed for the 14(c) program. The program provides meaningful rehabilitation and skills to workers with severe physical and mental disabilities. Chairwoman Foxx is joined by Chairman-elect Tim Walberg (R-MI), Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI). 


In a letter to Su, the members highlight the value of this program, as well as the “inappropriately rushed process” that DOL is attempting to complete before the Biden-Harris administration is out of power. 


The lawmakers write: “Such a drastic step of eliminating 14(c) certificates will significantly limit opportunities for these workers who rely on these jobs to help them find purpose and personal fulfillment, and to learn meaningful skills. A major policy change should be afforded meaningful consideration by a range of impacted stakeholders. Instead, in this NPRM, the Biden-Harris administration seeks to close the public comment period on January 17, 2025, following a mere 44 days for consideration and comment, which includes the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.”


The letter continues: “Because the far-reaching regulatory change would impact hundreds of workplaces and thousands of workers who value their occupations, we are concerned that DOL provided only for a 44 day-comment period. This short time period is particularly concerning when stakeholders will need to evaluate the probable effects of the proposed rule and write thoughtful comments over the course of the holiday season. In addition, DOL’s decision to publish the NPRM in the closing days of the Biden-Harris administration and to close the comment period only three days prior to the incoming Trump administration created an inappropriately rushed process for an issue that requires great thought and care on behalf of the impacted workforce and employers.”


Foxx, Walberg, Thompson, and Grothman conclude by calling on DOL to extend the public comment period by an additional 46 days, for a total of 90 days. 


Read the press release here


Dwoenload the full letter from the committee here.   

Biden signs into law Autism CARES Act offered by Collins

By Ripon Advance News Service,  January 3, 2025


President Joe Biden recently signed into law a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) that will expand federal support for research, services, and training related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.


Specifically, the Autism CARES Act of 2024, H.R. 7213, reauthorizes the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program that is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through fiscal year 2029; activities administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support autism education, early detection, and intervention; and the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee at HHS.


The new law also updates and establishes various related reporting requirements, including by requiring HHS to report on the feasibility of expanding certain training programs for developmental-behavioral pediatricians, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.


“This bill will continue the successful programming across HHS that helps us better understand the causes and the symptoms of the Autism spectrum disorder and improve the lives of families affected by it,” Sen. Collins said on Monday. “I am proud that we have reauthorized this important law, which is critical to expanding research at the NIH [National Institutes of Health], supporting the CDC’s effort to increase public awareness and early detection of autism spectrum disorder, and strengthening and expanding the Health Research and Services Administration’s workforce training to identify and support children and youth with autism as well as their families.”


President Biden on Dec. 23 enacted H.R. 7213, which U.S. Reps. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced in February 2024. Sen. Collins and U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) sponsored the same-named S. 4762 in July 2024.


Continued

Medicaid at Risk—What Cuts Mean for People with Disabilities—and All of Us

Press release from The Arc, by Jackie Dilworth , The Arc, January 3, 2025


Journalists, Medicaid is under unprecedented threat—and the impact will be felt nationwide.


As newly elected officials take office, many are considering cuts to Medicaid to fund other priorities like tax cuts, deficit reductions, or shrinking the size of the federal government. While Medicaid has been widely covered—from its role in public health to challenges during the unwinding of pandemic protections—the disability angle is often overlooked. This evolving story is about more than health care; it’s about the dignity, independence, and stability for millions of Americans.

Why This Story Matters

Medicaid is vital to the health and stability and the U.S. health care system and the 80 million Americans it covers, including people with disabilities, children, low-income adults, and seniors.

Medicaid provides:

  • Home and community-based services (HCBS) that help 4.5 million people with disabilities live, learn, work, and participate in their communities.
  • Early intervention for young children, school-based therapies, and equipment and technologies often excluded by private insurance.
  • Job skills training, placement, and coaching that enable people with disabilities to find meaningful, integrated employment opportunities.
  • $1 of every $6 spent on health care in the U.S., making it the nation’s largest single source of health coverage.
  • Support for schools, hospitals, and local economies.


Yet Medicaid is already stretched thin:

  • 711,000 people are waiting for HCBS, 73% of which are people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • 40% turnover among care workers due to low reimbursement rates leaves families without critical support, which negative impacts their careers and finances.
  • 25+ million Americans lost Medicaid coverage after pandemic protections ended, often due to paperwork issues—not ineligibility.

The Stakes for the Disability Community

Medicaid is the cornerstone of daily life for over 10 million children and adults with disabilities, funding 77% of essential services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Without it:

  • Many would lose their independence, forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions.
  • States would face severe constraints on eligibility and funding, leaving families across the country without options for vital services.

Why Now

The 2025 federal budget debates will decide Medicaid’s future. Proposed cuts could deepen waiting lists, worsen the care workforce crisis, leave millions uninsured, and destabilize our health care system. Reducing federal funding for Medicaid could also cost states billions annually, leading to an unprecedented rise in uninsured rates and health inequities. Medicaid has overwhelming bipartisan public support—with 75% of Americans viewing the program favorably, so your audience must understand the real-world consequences for people with disabilities and their families.


Continued on the Arc website

Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Nevada to Ensure Children with Behavioral Health Disabilities Can Live in Their Homes and Communities

Press Release from DOJ, January 3, 2025


The Justice Department announced today that it secured a settlement agreement with the State of Nevada to resolve the department’s findings that Nevada violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. by unnecessarily segregating children with behavioral health disabilities in institutional settings like hospitals and residential treatment facilities.


“Children with disabilities deserve to live with their families and in the communities they call home,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “These children should not be isolated in hospitals and residential treatment facilities, far from their homes. In this settlement, Nevada has committed that children with behavioral health disabilities will receive the services they need to remain in their communities. We look forward to partnering with Nevada as it implements this agreement and ushers in a new era of meaningful reform.”


Under the ADA and the Olmstead decision, states must administer their services to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. This agreement, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, will allow Nevada’s children with behavioral health disabilities to access the services they need without being forced to leave their homes, schools, and communities. To increase community integration for these children, Nevada has made significant commitments in this agreement, including:


  • Children who may have a behavioral health disability will be screened and assessed, and provided with service coordination;
  • Children with behavioral health disabilities will have access to expanded home- and community-based services. These services include wraparound facilitation, mobile crisis and stabilization services, respite care, individual and family therapy, behavioral support services, family peer support and youth peer support;
  • Nevada will improve diversion and transition processes to ensure children with behavioral health disabilities are being diverted from, and transitioned as quickly as possible from, segregated placements; and
  • Nevada will strengthen its quality assurance and performance improvement system.


Earlier today, the department filed a complaint. At the same time, the parties asked the court to dismiss the complaint but retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement. An independent reviewer will evaluate the state’s compliance with the agreement.


Children with disabilities have been a significant focus of the Civil Rights Division’s Olmstead enforcement work. In November 2024, the division entered an agreement with Maine resolving a lawsuit that alleged that Maine failed to serve children with behavioral health disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate; in July 2023, the division secured a court victory in a case challenging Florida’s unnecessary institutionalization of children with complex medical needs; and in December 2022, the division issued a report finding that Alaska violated Title II of the ADA by unnecessarily institutionalizing children with behavioral health disabilities.


Continued


Under the Biden Administration, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, under Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, has vigorously pursued policies that have misrepresented Olmstead and have resulted in closing facilities designed to protect our most severely disabled, most vulnerable loved ones, with little regard for the fact that equivalent services do not exist in HCBS settings.


We at VOR hope for a new DOJ that recognizes the FULL spectrum of intellectual disabilities and autism and works to protect the interests of the most vulnerable as well as those who seek integrated services in the community of non-disabled individuals.

For Our Families and Friends in the

Community of People with

Severe Mental Illnesses:

24, and Trying to Outrun Schizophrenia

Early intervention tries to rein in psychotic disorders before they can ruin young lives. For Kevin Lopez, everything is on the line.

By Ellen Barry, The New York Times, December 30, 2024


Kevin Lopez had just stepped out of his house, on his way to meet his girlfriend for Chinese food, when it happened: He began to hallucinate.


It was just a flicker, really. He saw a leaf fall, or the shadow of a leaf, and thought it was the figure of a person running. For a moment, on a clear night last month, this fast-moving darkness seemed to hurtle in his direction and a current of fear ran through him.


He climbed into the car, and the door shut and latched behind him with a reassuring thunk.


“It’s nothing,” he said. “I don’t know why — I think there’s a person there.”


Light had always caused problems for Kevin when symptoms of schizophrenia came on. He thought that the lights were watching him, like an eye or a camera, or that on the other side of the light, something menacing was crouched, ready to attack.


But over time, he had found ways to manage these episodes; they passed, like a leg cramp or a migraine. That night, he focused on things that he knew were real, like the vinyl of the car seat and the chill of the winter air.


For the past four years, Kevin has been part of a living experiment. Shortly after he began hallucinating, during his junior year at Syracuse University, his doctors recommended him for an intensive, government-funded program called OnTrackNY. It provided him with therapy, family counseling, vocational and educational assistance, medication management and a 24-hour hotline.


Such programs — there are around 350 in the United States — challenge the old idea that psychotic disorders are degenerative, a long slide to permanent disability. They operate on the notion of a golden hour. By wrapping a young person in social supports early on, the theory goes, it may be possible to prevent the disorder from advancing.


In the years that followed, Kevin’s OnTrack team shaped his life in profound ways: by assuring officials at Syracuse University that he was well enough to return and finish his degree; by persuading Kevin’s mother that it was safe to let him return to college; by relieving the everyday stresses that could set off psychosis. Sometimes, when Kevin argued with his girlfriend, he would put his OnTrack therapist on speakerphone.


But now, after four years, his time in the program was up. An estimated 100,000 people experience a first episode of psychosis every year, roughly four times the number of spots available in early intervention programs. So in December, it would all go away: the team of five providers and the hotline and the therapist who reminded him of his mother.


What would happen to him without their support? Even as enthusiasm for early intervention builds, long-term studies are casting doubt on whether its benefits last after discharge. For Kevin, leaving the program meant a sudden blast of autonomy and a million questions about what his future, with schizophrenia, would look like.


“The training wheels are coming off,” he said.


Read the full article here


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December 31, 2024.


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State News:

Any Medicaid changes require care, not haste

Opinoin, by Jill Burcum, The Minnesota Star-Tribune, December 28, 2024


With nearly 1.2 million Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid, chances are you know someone who gets their health care through this publicly funded program for low-income people.


Typically referred to in Minnesota as “medical assistance,” Medicaid covers 3 in 10 kids in the state and 1 in 3 people with disabilities. It plays a vital role in paying for long-term care, with more than half of nursing home residents here relying on it, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization. Another eye-catching data point: The program covers 33% of births in Minnesota, ensuring that nearly 21,000 babies born here each year get off to a healthy start.


This workhorse of a program does a lot of good, which is why it’s important to be clear-eyed about the consequences of potential Medicaid reforms, particularly those intended to swiftly wring savings from it. While the intricacies of a congressional debate over Medicaid might seem distant, the decisions made in Washington, D.C., could affect the health care of someone you care about.


That’s why the coming debate over Medicaid requires close attention as President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated and a new session of Congress begins. During Trump’s first term, Republicans unsuccessfully sought sweeping changes to the program. While Medicaid and health care weren’t a high-profile 2024 campaign issue, news reports suggest discussions are underway again in Washington, D.C., about “significant changes to Medicaid” and other safety-net programs.


“The threat to Medicaid emerges, in part, from simple math. Republicans are likely to go looking for some major places to cut spending to help fund a plan to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which expire after next year,” according to a Nov. 6 article in STAT News. “When Republicans passed the tax cut legislation, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the tax cuts would add $1.8 trillion over a decade to the deficit.”


Elon Musk’s DOGE advisory group is also looking for savings. From his perspective, it’s logical to look at big-budget programs such as Medicaid. The program is jointly financed by the state and federal governments. Annual spending stood at $872 billion in 2023, translating to 18% of total national health expenditures, reports the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).


For context, Medicare, the federally run medical insurance program mainly serving Americans 65 and up, accounts for 21% of total national health expenditures.


One key political difference between these two essential programs: Medicare’s constituency wields considerable clout. Older Americans vote. And AARP and other groups would fiercely oppose Medicare changes that might adversely affect seniors.


Many of Medicaid’s enrollees are likely struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. The program may also lack grassroots advocates because too few people know of Medicaid’s foundational role in funding long-term care, services for the disabled, labor and delivery, mental health care and substance abuse treatment.


Minnesota’s world-class medical community merits praise for sounding an early alarm. More than 130 organizations signed a Dec. 20 letter to the state’s congressional delegation noting that they are “united in opposition” to major Medicaid changes:


“Some harmful changes being considered include a conversion into a block grant system, instituting a per-capita-cap, adding work reporting requirements and other measures in upcoming budget resolutions and reconciliation bills ... the three most commonly mentioned proposals would have a significant negative impact on Minnesota’s health care system, and more importantly, would harm Minnesotans’ health care statewide.”


Changes that result in federal savings could in turn put a hit on state finances. Federal Medicaid funding for Minnesota stood at $10.8 billion in fiscal 2024, according to state officials. Even a slight reduction in federal support could leave a gaping state budget hole.


To be clear, I welcome the opportunity to look for efficiencies in federal programs. In a column earlier this month, I pointed out the potential for billions in Medicare savings by reducing overpayments to private insurers who administer the Medicare Advantage program. Implementing this wouldn’t be easy because of insurers’ political influence. But it’s an example of an approach that prioritizes those the program serves over entities profiting from it.


The vulnerable groups Medicaid serves require similar protection and prioritization. If Medicaid reforms are needed, they must be done with care, not in haste.


Read the full editorial here

New Jersey - Candidates for NJ governor, please make people with disabilities a priority

Opinion by Paul Aronsohn, NJ State Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families, Special to the USA TODAY Network via North Jersey . Com, January 3, 2025


This column is an open letter to the field of candidates running for New Jersey governor in 2025.


Dear Candidates:


I am writing to all of you with one request: Please make people with disabilities and their families a priority in your campaign, and for the eventual winner, please bring that priority to your administration. There are an estimated one million New Jerseyans with disabilities — a full 11% of our population. That includes hundreds of thousands of children and adults with lifespan disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida and intellectual disabilities.


As you know, disabilities affect people across every community, every socio-economic group, every political party. Indeed, I would venture to guess that every New Jersey family includes someone — close relative or friend — who has at least one disability. And I would venture to guess that many of them have not been able to obtain the supports and services that they need and deserve.


Over the past 7 years, the Murphy Administration has tried to make the system of care for people with disabilities better, stronger, more accessible and more person-centered. New policies. New approaches. New financial commitments. New transparency measures. But there is more that needs to be done. Much more.


And this year’s election for governor provides an opportunity to move the ball forward — to build on that strong foundation and to take it all to the next level.


To that end, I could offer a long list of recommendations, systemic as well as policy-specific. In fact, in each of our office’s six publicly-available annual reports we have shared very specific observations and recommendations that go to the heart of the challenges faced by many individuals and families. But knowing that you have a lot of demands placed on you, I have just three basic, commonsense, impactful requests:


Continued

Kentucky mother wants to expand who can have cameras in residential facilities

By sarah Ladd, The Kentucky Lantern, January 2, 2025


Ann Jeannette Pierce is worried by the unexplained bruises and cuts that periodically pop up on her nonverbal adult daughter. 


So, the Owensboro woman is asking the Kentucky legislature to make it possible for her and others like her to have cameras in residential facilities such as the one where her daughter, Caroline, lives. 

Pierce’s proposal would essentially fast-track the current process, which involves an application to a human rights review committee, whose members then decide if it’s appropriate to waive privacy protections for that individual. 


Opponents worry the legislation could create a series of privacy issues that violate the rights of individuals living with disabilities. 


Caroline is 33, nonverbal and has “severe” autism, according to her mother. She lives in a residential facility covered by a Medicaid Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver. Kentucky’s waiver gives adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities access to residential supports, vehicle adaptation and more. 


About six years ago, Caroline started presenting with “unexplained injuries,” Pierce said, and since then, she’s had 106 unexplained injuries. They include bruises on her legs and arms and a cut on the back of her head, according to photos shared with the Kentucky Lantern.


Caroline “seldom had a bruise growing up,” Pierce said, and medical scans “rule out reasons to be clumsy.”


Jeff Edwards, the director of Protection and Advocacy, which represents Kentuckians with disabilities legally and through other advocacy, said cameras aren’t a foolproof way to protect people. 


“Anyone that’s living in a Medicaid … Supports for Community lLiving waiver slot, they have a team around them,” he said. “There’s a number of people that are with you constantly, that are all mandatory reporters that have the responsibility, if they feel that a person is being abused or neglected, to report it to the appropriate individuals to see that that’s addressed.” 


Protection and Advocacy isn’t for or against the legislation, but sees it as unnecessary given the ability to apply for cameras already. 


“I think privacy is paramount for people,” Edwards said. “I think we’ve spent a long time (when) people with disabilities have not had a right of privacy, and so anything that protects people and their individual voices are what we’re going to support.” 


Pierce feels the current system is failing her family: “I’ve been trying for six years to get help and can’t,” she said. 


Now, she’s asking the state legislature to expand who can install cameras in the types of facilities in which her daughter lives. She wants a law allowing any people living in SCL residential facilities — or their guardians — to opt in for record-only cameras in their living spaces. 


These cameras would not be capable of live streaming or any other virtual monitoring, according to a letter Pierce sent to lawmakers detailing the proposal. Footage would be viewed only if there is an instance of suspected abuse, and footage would be periodically erased from the device. 


Pierce testified before the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services on Sept. 25 about the legislation Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, plans to sponsor in 2025. 


During that meeting, several adults with disabilities expressed their concerns about the legislation and its potential to violate privacy. 


Pierce pointed out her and Thomas’ proposal would not mandate cameras; it would only allow people to opt in to having them if they feel there is a need. 


“The ones that were testifying were verbal, and they could just refuse to have a camera put in their bedrooms,” said Marie Allison, a Lexington attorney advocating for the camera legislation alongside Pierce. “If they’re verbal and they can give an opinion, then they have the right to refuse.” 


Read the full article here 

Texas - Vocational program for individuals with disabilities faces closure due to loss of funding

By Ethan Trejo, Fox San Antonio, January 2, 2025


A local vocational apprenticeship program that has provided critical job training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is facing closure after losing its funding.


The Hill Country Mental Health Center's Vocational Apprenticeship Program, which trains individuals with mental health challenges for real-world employment, recently celebrated its second graduating class.

However, it has been notified that it will no longer receive ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, leading to the abrupt end of the program.


Kesha Hawkins, program manager for the initiative, expressed the community's deep loss.

"It's going to be missed in the community, not just by the apprentices, but also by the community at large," Hawkins said.

The program, which offers both on-the-job training and classroom instruction focused on soft skills, has helped individuals overcome obstacles that prevent them from entering the workforce. Many participants in the program have faced issues like low self-esteem, and for some, the idea of being employed seemed out of reach.

"The students themselves are coming from a place where they did not feel that they could be utilized in the world," Hawkins explained. "A lot of them are dealing with low self-esteem. They never believed that they could do it. And being in this program, learning the skills, having someone to be patient with them and to walk them through the steps of what it takes to get a job, has been a great source of support for them."

The program, which had to abruptly expedite its graduation in December due to the funding cuts, is now in a state of uncertainty as it searches for new financial support. 


Continued


What's Happening In Your Community?


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VOR Bill Watch:


Currently there are no bills in the 119th Congress that affect the lives of people with I/DD or autism.



[Please click on blue link to view information about the bill]



VOR SUPPORTS:



VOR OPPOSES:



VOR supports increasing funding for people with I/DD, but we have concerns with bills would discriminate against people with the most severe I/DD and autism and jeopardize the higher-care facilities or employment programs that are most appropriate to their needs.



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