Have lengthy waiting lists for a Medicaid Waiver or other services affected you or your family?

 Are you willing to share your thoughts and experiences regarding the waiting/interest lists?

 If so, we would like to hear from you!

Every two years the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD), in conjunction with the Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities (TOPDD), develops a Biennial Disability Report to the Texas Legislature, Governor and other state leaders.  This report is designed to help policy makers, advocates and other people understand the range of needs, services and supports for Texans with disabilities and as a guide for future policy development and decision making procedures.  The theme for the 2008 report is “The State's Allocation of Resources to Provide Long Term Services and Supports for People with Developmental Disabilities.”

We are looking for individuals with disabilities and family members who are willing to share their personal experiences with the waiting lists.  We would like to know how the delay in obtaining waiver services has affected your life.  We are also interested in any thoughts you have regarding long-term services and supports in the community.

To help obtain individual stories, TCDD has contracted with Therese Palombi to write short accounts of the thoughts and experiences of 10-12 people.  We are looking for young and older parents, individuals from minority cultures, people from different parts of the state, as well as people with different types of developmental disabilities.  TCDD may also use these stories on an Internet site about Medicaid waiting lists.

If you are interested in sharing your story or for more information on the Biennial Disability Report, please contact:  

Therese Palombi at (512) 736-3522 or tpalombi@scioto.com.