Why Friday the 13th Matters

You should have your eye on this Friday, March 13 for two reasons. 

·      One is the deadline for public comment on the proposed D.C. transition plan for compliance with the federal rule on home and community based waivers:

      https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B489LE-2ltOgVk1LaDBIWkNLSWM/view?usp=sharing

The DDA transition plan for the I/DD waiver is a part of this document, and the DDA plan is what I talked about in my blog on November 24.  This is your opportunity to comment before the full plan is submitted to the federal government.  There was a public comment session last month, but there wasn’t much advance notification.  More information on the federal rule itself can be found at www.hcbsadvocacy.org.  

Send written comments on D.C.’s proposed transition plan to Trina Dutta at the D.C. Department of Health Care Finance, 441 4^th St. NW, 9^th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, or email comments to the email address dhcfpubliccomments@dc.gov.  This plan is going to affect you or your loved one, so it deserves attention.

·       Also, March 13 will be the next session of the Supporting Families Community of Practice, taking place at DLA Piper, LLP, 500 8^th Street NW from 9:30 to 3:30.  This session will be focused on supported decision making (SDM), an important alternative to formal guardianship (www.supporteddecisionmaking.org).  As I mentioned in my blog “Organizations You Should Know” last month, D.C.’s own Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities recently received a competitive HHS grant to develop a national resource center for supported decision-making.  The head of the Quality Trust, Tina Campanella, will attend the Community of Practice meeting on Friday to talk about and field questions about supported decision making.  I don't know yet whether there will be a dial-in or other remote option for participating in the session, but if I learn there is I’ll share that information.

Attend the Community of Practice session on Friday if you can, and if you have comments on D.C.'s proposed transition plan – last chance!  only three days! – send those comments by the 13^th too.