From Tina-
For those of you who are thinking that Daniela must, by now, be at school in Wisconsin, I thought I would give you an update -
About a week before we were due to fly to Shepherds for the orientation, we received a phone call from the college, saying there would be a delay in the start date until the second of September. This, of course, was a big shock to all of us, but after the school explained the reason why, the delay became very understandable.
In every state, there is a program for people with intellectual disabilities called "medicaid waivers". Most of you who are familiar with the world of disabilities know all about this program, but for those of you who do not know this term, I'll give you a basic explanation (you can google it for a more detailed explanation).
Waiver programs were developed to promote individuals with disabilities, both children and adults, being able to live in the community and not be institutionalized. There are various types of programs for different populations and each state runs their program differently. Here in Virginia, there is approximately a 10 year waiting list for the ID (intellectual disability) waiver. Daniela was on that list. The funds help to support services to keep individuals in their family home or, when they become adults, in a home of their own. This can include many types of services: such as vocational services, life skills training, minor services such as weekly visits or 24 hour a day supervision. While this sounds expensive, institutional care is much, much more costly.
Shepherds College has been an incredible provider of waiver services. It's program up until recently has fit the guidelines and a number of the Wisconsin resident students costs were covered, in varying amounts, by the Wisconsin waiver program (called IRIS). Wisconsin, has ranked in the top 10-15 states in providing excellent services tho their residents with disabilities. (Virginia is ranked at 40.....)
This summer the Wisconsin legislature has decided to put a 2 year freeze on new participants. This is devastating to many families in Wisconsin. But for Shepherds students already receiving services, there is a different problem - somehow, the program has recently been denied as being considered as a provider of services for the IRIS program. From my understanding (and this is very confusing) someone has decided the college students are being "institutionalized" because they live together in the dorms and apartments..... Therefore they are not living in the community. Does this mean all "regular" students living in college housing are institutionalized???
The college is working very hard in this month of delay to get the program reinstated to receive IRIS funding. There is a great deal of support within the state government and legislature, which is good news. The college will find out by the end of next week whether they were successful in their efforts. If they are not, sadly, a number of students may not have the funds to continue in the program. The college offers scholarships, but those funds will be very strained by this major loss of funding. This situation would be devastating for affected students and their families. Shepherds College is one of, (if not THE), most innovative and amazing programs in the world helping young adults with intellectual disabilities to live the most independent lives possible. The graduates will be much less likely to need expensive services to live in the community, whether in Wisconsin or anywhere else they live. Please send your prayers and good thoughts that ALL the students will be returning to school next month. The college is also soon going to add a place on their web-site that will accept donations to the scholarship program. (you can donate now as well - if you are interested, email me privately and I'll tell you how.)
I will update you all when I find out the outcome of the college's efforts. Daniela is busy now with a packet the college sent to help her transition into school. She has to keep a record of a number of daily chores around the house. She is expected to read and exercise for a certain number of minutes each week. She also has cooking assignments (She made us a delicious roast with potatoes and carrots tonight!!)
The college was kind enough to reimburse for the fees required in changing our flights so we are rebooked and ready to head to Wisconsin again next month!!
All the best,
Tina
For those of you who are thinking that Daniela must, by now, be at school in Wisconsin, I thought I would give you an update -
About a week before we were due to fly to Shepherds for the orientation, we received a phone call from the college, saying there would be a delay in the start date until the second of September. This, of course, was a big shock to all of us, but after the school explained the reason why, the delay became very understandable.
In every state, there is a program for people with intellectual disabilities called "medicaid waivers". Most of you who are familiar with the world of disabilities know all about this program, but for those of you who do not know this term, I'll give you a basic explanation (you can google it for a more detailed explanation).
Waiver programs were developed to promote individuals with disabilities, both children and adults, being able to live in the community and not be institutionalized. There are various types of programs for different populations and each state runs their program differently. Here in Virginia, there is approximately a 10 year waiting list for the ID (intellectual disability) waiver. Daniela was on that list. The funds help to support services to keep individuals in their family home or, when they become adults, in a home of their own. This can include many types of services: such as vocational services, life skills training, minor services such as weekly visits or 24 hour a day supervision. While this sounds expensive, institutional care is much, much more costly.
Shepherds College has been an incredible provider of waiver services. It's program up until recently has fit the guidelines and a number of the Wisconsin resident students costs were covered, in varying amounts, by the Wisconsin waiver program (called IRIS). Wisconsin, has ranked in the top 10-15 states in providing excellent services tho their residents with disabilities. (Virginia is ranked at 40.....)
This summer the Wisconsin legislature has decided to put a 2 year freeze on new participants. This is devastating to many families in Wisconsin. But for Shepherds students already receiving services, there is a different problem - somehow, the program has recently been denied as being considered as a provider of services for the IRIS program. From my understanding (and this is very confusing) someone has decided the college students are being "institutionalized" because they live together in the dorms and apartments..... Therefore they are not living in the community. Does this mean all "regular" students living in college housing are institutionalized???
The college is working very hard in this month of delay to get the program reinstated to receive IRIS funding. There is a great deal of support within the state government and legislature, which is good news. The college will find out by the end of next week whether they were successful in their efforts. If they are not, sadly, a number of students may not have the funds to continue in the program. The college offers scholarships, but those funds will be very strained by this major loss of funding. This situation would be devastating for affected students and their families. Shepherds College is one of, (if not THE), most innovative and amazing programs in the world helping young adults with intellectual disabilities to live the most independent lives possible. The graduates will be much less likely to need expensive services to live in the community, whether in Wisconsin or anywhere else they live. Please send your prayers and good thoughts that ALL the students will be returning to school next month. The college is also soon going to add a place on their web-site that will accept donations to the scholarship program. (you can donate now as well - if you are interested, email me privately and I'll tell you how.)
I will update you all when I find out the outcome of the college's efforts. Daniela is busy now with a packet the college sent to help her transition into school. She has to keep a record of a number of daily chores around the house. She is expected to read and exercise for a certain number of minutes each week. She also has cooking assignments (She made us a delicious roast with potatoes and carrots tonight!!)
The college was kind enough to reimburse for the fees required in changing our flights so we are rebooked and ready to head to Wisconsin again next month!!
All the best,
Tina
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