…but I never really knew just how much until now. For a few years, I have talked about Florida Medicaid waiver funding and specifically how Florida ranks 50th out of the nation in funding for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I complain and fuss about how ashamed I am that these special people aren’t [...]

Florida legislators considering funding cuts for the developmentally disabled. 
House and Senate aren’t agreeing.
Balancing the budget on the backs of Florida’s most vulnerable, many of whom aren’t able to speak for themselves.
Sound familiar?  Well immediate action is needed today, and you, our advocates, can speak up!  Visit this Web site to take a stand.  Currently the Florida [...]

You ever have those epiphany moments when things just suddenly become clear?  I hate to sound like a broken record on the state of the Medicaid waiver system in Florida.  I guess it comes up every time the Florida legislature goes into session.  I’ve talked about it here, here and here as well as several other [...]

The following piece is adapted from the Florida Association for Rehabilitative Facilities (ARF) Medicaid Waiver cuts white paper for the developmentally disabled.  It gives a bleak but accurate picture of the cuts seen within the system over the past seven years.

In July 2003, the State of Florida Agency for Person’s with Disabilities (APD) adopted a [...]

In May, the state of Florida legislature sent a budget to the Governor’s office in Tallahassee that included 2.5% cuts across the board for Medicaid waiver services, specifically hurting providers that assist individuals with disabilities.  A grassroots effort was launched throughout the state on behalf of the agencies requesting that parents, board members and advocates [...]

What would losing $15,000 a year do to you?  Knowing present economic situations across the country, it’s easy for someone to understand what it’s like to lose a job or have hours cut back, lose your benefits, live month to month and have all of your finances in turmoil.  Picture a similar scenario for someone who [...]

While our Florida state lawmakers continue to do things that baffle me, I’ve got a new one that should ruffle your feathers, too.  The Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration who regulates and oversees service provider agencies across the state for everything from hospitals to nursing homes, mental health centers to those facilities serving the intellectually [...]

The Florida legislature just went into session last week, and there are already very pertinent pieces of legislation pending that could greatly affect the citizens ARC Marion serves and the developmentally disabled across our state.  In fact, in the next 14 days, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees are considering two options to further reduce funding [...]

…A question so appropriately asked recently by one of the ARC program directors.  With tears in her eyes she continued, “For all these years we’ve been telling our folks that they could make choices.  If they want to attend ADT (adult day training) today, they can.  If they want to go out on enclave (a [...]

Allow me to step back on my soapbox for a few days. 
Want to know how the Medicaid waiver works for the developmentally disabled in Florida?  This year, it goes something like this.  If you aren’t already on the waiting list, apply.  Get your name on the list and sit there for the next seven years [...]

The fact remains, there are certain people groups who frankly need assistance from the government.  As much as I hate to admit it sometimes from the political standpoint, without government assistance and intervention for certain folks, like those with developmental disabilities, they just wouldn’t receive the care and training they need.
However, just as we as [...]

I’m officially hot and bothered!  The Florida legislature has gone to great heights to get me to this level, and I just really can’t believe what I’m reading in the press day in and day out about their most recent special session. 
I’ve mentioned in this blog before the fact that the state of Florida ranks [...]

Warning- you or someone you know is about to be harshly reprimanded simply because of what you may have just said.  Portions of this blog post are coming from The Vision, ARC Marion’s newsletter, Fall/Winter 2008, but since I wrote it there, I’m posting it here.  It’s important for people to know how we,as advocates for [...]

Since healthcare is such a hot topic right now, I thought I’d add a little insight from my perspective.  No I’m not going to talk about how the system is broken or how the insurance industry’s regulations and mandates have wreaked havoc on the way our physicians are able to practice medicine… what I do [...]

I know there is a great need for information about the Medicaid Waiver, because it can be confusing and daunting to anyone just starting the process.  While I am aware that Medicaid Waiver systems are basically in place all across the country, (see map ) the state of Florida is different than most others and is unique.  We are [...]

We in “the business” of serving and working with the developmentally disabled have gotten ourselves into a quandary.  While we strive for political correctness, as nearly everyone in this present age attempts to do, we’ve caused much confusion in our terminology and lingo among people of all ages.  Often when I’m speaking to people and [...]