Institutionalized and Priced Out of Community-Based Services

Host Annette Hines and her guest, David Goldfarb who is the Director of Policy at the Arc of the United States discuss policy and advocacy issues related to housing and institutional bias in the disability community.  Despite the landmark Olmstead decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1999  that found that people with disabilities were being segregated into institutional facilities and should be supported in community living situations, these services are not mandatory under Medicaid. Therefore, most people with disabilities are only able to secure funding for housing in institutions. Hines shares startling statistics from a report released by the National Council on Disability that 14 million Americans need community-based services, and nearly 40% of those people are under age 65.  As a result of this, people under the age of 30 account for the fastest growing group of nursing home residents. She refers to lack of financial investment for home and community-based services "institutional bias," which prevents people from living their best lives and neglects their choices and freedoms in their home life.  Without the financial support that enables access to affordable housing, quality direct support workers, and community support programs, people with disabilities are forced to choose between living at home or living in an institutional setting. Let your representatives know that community-based services should be mandatory under Medicaid.  Learn more on The Arc of the U.S.'s website: https://thearc.org/

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