As you know, the Legislatures Joint Finance Committee voted this week to freeze community long-term care funding in Wisconsin starting June 30, 2011. We have shared compelling data about cost-effectiveness, cost comparisons and people forced into nursing homes. Nothing seems to be getting through. But we need to keep telling our stories!

June 30, 2011 is now Looming for Families

A statewide group of concerned families - Wisconsin Families Forward - has formed to specifically share the stories of young people with disabilities and their families who now face uncertainty and terrifying choices after June 30.

The Timing is URGENT. Survey Responses needed by Friday, June 3.

SURVEY TO SHARE

Please share this survey with your networks, groups of families and parent associations particularly parents of young children and parents of young adults in transition or waiting for a life in the community.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wilongtermcarecap

STORIES NEEDED

Also, encourage families to send their personal stories with photo and complete address to this address Lisa.Pugh@drwi.org . Stories will be shared with legislators. When writing their story, here questions families should answer:

Knowing your son/daughter as you do now, and thinking of the type of supports he/she may need to live life as a successful adult as YOU envision what will it mean if there is NOTHING by way of help? While our kids are young they have some place to go during the day for a majority of their time a meaningful place with learning and friends called SCHOOL. What happens when there is no school to go to anymore? If your young adult is waiting for support now and no longer goes to school what concerns do you have that keep you up at night? Will your son/daughter likely need some care/supervision when they leave school? Would she likely need supports on a job? Would he need transportation help (other than you) to get around in the community? What are some of her interests that in your dreams as a parent you think with help could lead toward a job and contribution in the community? What type of public support might you need to make that happen? What would it mean for you and the rest of your family if that helping hand to reach these dreams does not exist in any way? How would affect your health, your finances, your ability to live?

We need to make this personal. Legislators need to understand our lives.

Please send in your story.

Sent on behalf of:

Wisconsin Families Forward

For the Future of People with Disabilities