Governor Manchin We want freedom

We have asked Governor Joe Manchin several times to look at the MR/DD Waiver manual and to please change it. The current manual discriminates against people with disabilities. It states that you can only travel 700 miles in your own community. We do not tell the Governor that he has to stay in his own community. Why does he have the right to tell us that? You can ask a company named APS Healthcare if you can get more mileage, or have permission to go somewhere. Why this extra layer of bureaucracy? We have told the Governor on numerous occasions we dont want them and he hires them anyway at a cost of 9.7 million taxpayer dollars.


The second part in the manual that we have asked the Governor to change is the part about the person with a disabilities IQ. The manual states on page 50 that


Functionality


Substantially limited functioning in three (3) or more of the following major life areas; (substantially


limited is defined on standardized measures of adaptive behavior scores as three (3) standard


deviations below the mean or less than one (1) percentile when derived from non MR normative


populations or in the average range or equal to or below the seventy fifth (75) percentile when


derived from MR normative populations. The presence of substantial deficits must be supported


not only by the relevant test scores, but also the narrative descriptions contained in the


documentation submitted for review, i.e., psychological, the IEP, Occupational Therapy evaluation,


etc.). Applicable categories regarding general functioning include:


− Self-care


− Receptive or expressive language (communication)


− Learning (functional academics)


− Mobility


− Self-direction


− Capacity for independent living





This means that the individual served must have an IQ OF 55 or below. We have told the Governor that this will put thousands of West Virginians in an institutional setting. He doesnt seem to care since he is going ahead with this policy. I told him I would rather die than go into a nursing home. He is still forging ahead. This policy will go into effect November 1, if concerned citizens like myself do not speak out against him and stop this.


You get a re-determination evaluation every year. Mine is do in December my IQ is above 55. I know I will be forced out of my home.





PLEASE LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD AND SIGN THIS PETITION.





While you are at it please go to http://www.petitiononline.com/open4biz/petition.html and express your displeasure for The Governors new open for business signs. What pride is there in being open for business when you are putting you most vulnerable in nursing homes?