…an update from the CEO’s Desk
by Steve Hodapp
With this being March, it’s appropriate to mention a couple notables for the month.
DDAM
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This designation is meant to increase awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life and the barriers they still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
This designation was started by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. He encouraged all Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Vodec’s mission statement includes this intention of helping people with developmental disabilities reach their full potential.
We’ll be celebrating with thousands of people across the country the intention of that proclamation by President Reagan. Locally, the mayors of Council Bluffs and Omaha have committed to schedule time to make proclamations recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Some consumers from Vodec, representing all Vodec consumers, will attend these events.
It’s terribly important for each person with a developmental disability to feel connected and appreciated by his or her community and to have the opportunities to be immersed in community activities.
CMS Compliance
With that community immersion in mind, Vodec will continue to work to be compliant with regulations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Effective March 17, 2014, these regulations have a purpose to “ensure that individuals receive Medicaid HCBS” (Home and Community Based Services) “in settings that are integrated in and support full access to the greater community.” Compliance is targeted for March 2022. Between now and then, our services – which are presently facility-based – will transition to more community inclusion.
Primarily targeted for transition is our facility-based work program offered at two locations in Omaha and one in Council Bluffs. This program teaches employability skills using work tasks from local businesses.
We’re developing a plan to enable a consumer in that program to learn about other options, which include a job in the community with a private employer or access to another program offered weekdays.
We’re also exploring the feasibility of continuing an employment training program with alternative funding. Service fees that currently support the employment training won’t be available through Medicaid after March 2022.
During these next two years, more will be shared about this development in this space and in consumers’ planning meetings. Stay tuned.