On
Saturday I went directly from Project Action!’s monthly meeting to the DC
Autism Society's annual luncheon. Attending these events back-to-back
impressed on me how important it is for local groups to make common cause on key
issues affecting people with developmental disabilities in D.C. Here are two whose time has come:
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At the D.C. Autism Society (DCASA) meeting a
couple of weeks ago, a major topic of conversation was the intersection of race
and disability in interactions with the police.
Then I went to Project Action! on Saturday and learned that several
people had recently attended a workshop sponsored by the
Washington Peace Center (http://washingtonpeacecenter.net/)
on the same issue. The
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), a national group with D.C. roots, also has
a particular interest in this issue. So
it seems to me it’s time for members of these groups to put their heads
together and develop an action plan for advocacy and outreach with the MPD. I mentioned this to folks
at both the Project Action! meeting and the DCASA luncheon, and I hope someone
will pick up on it. I’m happy to
connect the right people to get this discussion going if that will help.
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At
Saturday’s Project Action! meeting, DDS acting director Andy Reese talked about
weekly meetings taking place to consider amendments to the DDA-administered Medicaid
waiver. I asked him whether expanding waiver
services to people with autism and other developmental disabilities who do not
meet the IQ threshold was also on the table. He said it can be part of this ongoing discussion. Access to Medicaid waiver
services is critically important for those who require supports, and it’s time
for eligibility to be broadened. The
last effort foundered almost six years ago, and that’s six years too many. I’d like to see Project Action!, DCASA and
others concerned with bringing greater justice for those with disabilities in
our city to partner in support of eligibility expansion. Now’s the time, and if it needs legislation,
then let’s advocate for that too. Let’s
help the DDS director-to-be make his mark on disability services in D.C. as his
predecessor Laura Nuss did.
The
political environment is ripe for us to make a difference on these issues. Let’s come together and do it.
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