Excuse Me?

We have been beating the drum since 2004. In perfect rhythm we can chant, “There are 15,500 men, women and children with developmental disabilities in the State of Indiana on waiting lists for services. They can be on a list for 10 years or longer.”

Until now, we continued to use 15,500 as the number, even though we assumed to some degree it was no longer correct.

We knew the list would grow as infants and toddlers were diagnosed with developmental disabilities (DD), young adults graduated from special education classes, and older adults needed a living situation because of aging parents. /p>

We also knew the list would decrease, as persons on the list died before coming to the top. In addition, some - a little over 600 - have recently come off the list as the State of Indiana released waiver slots to provide service.

With all of the changes, that number is still correct. The Division of Disability and Rehabilitation Services (DDRS) released its Quarterly Financial Review* in August. According to the review, the total number of individuals on the waiting list is now 15,477.

In addition to this number, other disturbing numbers were reported. The State of Indiana allocated $417M for services to individuals with disabilities, including those with DD. $27M remained unspent. Because we didn’t spend $27M, $67M of federal Medicaid funds were not claimed. Doing the math, that equals $94M that just disappeared.

The average cost per person on the DD Waiver is $72,000 per year. $94M could have served 1,300 individuals.

Persons with developmental disabilities can use the help of local individuals who are willing to advocate on their behalf by sending email or letters to State legislators. If you want to get involved, contact Kathi Thompson: (574) 753-4104 ext 128 / kthompson@peakcommunity.com.