Easterseals Midwest 2018 Legislative Priorities

2018 Legislative Priorities Adequately Fund Services for People with Developmental Disabilities

Currently, the rates being reimbursed to organizations like Easterseals Midwest is underfunded by more than 40% – creating a burden on providers across the state of Missouri. This presents a very real threat to the community-based network of providers who form the safety net system for individuals who need disability services. Core areas of our advocacy focus will include restoration of the 3% Provider Core Cut, rate rebasement efforts, and Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA).

Autism Funding

Approximately one in sixty-eight children in Missouri will be diagnosed with autism. Our services keep families together, help children attend their neighborhood schools, and prepare them for a bright future that includes gainful employment and independent living. Easterseals Midwest supports an increase of $1 million in additional funding for the five statewide autism services.

Competitive and Integrated Employment

Only 7% of people with developmental disabilities are employed through competitive or supported employment. Easterseals Midwest encourages legislative support of Vocational Rehabilitation and Department of Mental Health – Developmental Disabilities Employment Programs. Within this structure, individuals can earn a living wage, pay taxes, and reduce reliance on public programs. Our priority is to make Missouri an Employment First State, enacting policies that promote community-based, integrated employment as the first option for employment-related services for the over 100,000 individuals in Missouri with a disability.

Oppose Managed Care for People with Disabilities

Easterseals opposes Managed Care, a system that limits our individual’s provider choice, reduces necessary critical support, and does not comply with the standards set forth within the Home and Community-Based Services Final Rule. Outcomes in other states have shown current Managed Care models have disrupted an individuals ability to remain in the community. Additionally, implementation of Managed Care has reduced reimbursement rates (IA,WI,KS) to service providers, closing the doors to vital programs and support. Managed Care would produce poor outcomes for our most vulnerable Missourians.

easterseals.com/midwest | 1.800.200.2119

E A S TE R S E A L S M I DWE S T AT A G L A N CE Who We Are Easterseals provides opportunities for people of all ages with a range of disabilities to achieve their full potential. For nearly 100 years, we have been the indispensable resource for people and families challenged by disabilities. Through therapy, training, education and support services, we empower people to live a life of opportunity, independence and contribution.

Advocacy is also a core part of our mission. Easterseals partners with community members to work together in building a better, more inclusive world for people of all abilities. We offer a variety of education and outreach programs, including workshops for legislators, first responders, physicians and educators.

4,700+ LIVES CHANGED

1,700+ 2,500+ 4,300+ 55,000+ Employees

Individual Donors

Volunteer Hours

Hours of Staff Training and Development

We believe that everyone, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to live, learn, and work in their community.

103,088 93% 15% $2 MILLION

estimated Missouri adults living with an intellectual/ developmental disability

unemployment rate for adult Missourians with an intellectual/developmental disability

of children ages 3 - 17 have an intellectual/ developmental disability

raised by Easterseals Midwest staff and volunteers each year to supplement government funding

Our Locations and Service Area 19 Regional Offices St. Joseph Kansas City 3 locations

Bolivar

Columbia St. Louis 9 Locations

Cape Girardeau

Joplin Springfield

Poplar Bluff

Sources: Department of Mental Health, Center for Disease Control, National Core Indicators, Easterseals Midwest

Autism Services

Employment Services

Early Childhood Services

Community Living Services

We believe that all members of our community, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to live, learn, work, play and act.

Live

Easterseals provides hands-on, comprehensive support to help people reach their full potential—regardless of disability or challenges. Families and individuals can choose from a variety of individualized programs spanning Autism Services, Community Living Services and therapy.

Learn

Easterseals provides programs designed to help children and adults learn — and sometimes re-learn — basic functions and master skills needed to develop and thrive at all stages of life.

Work

Easterseals offers a variety of training and placement services that help people prepare for the workforce — for many, meaningful work is often the key to overcoming challenges and engaging with the community.

Play

Easterseals offers fun, supportive programs where children and adults can relax, connect with friends and gain new experiences.

Act

Disability touches us all. Through volunteering, advocating, donating and participating in events, we offer everyone an opportunity to be inspired and take action.

Benjamin “Easterseals helps people unlock their potential. That has a much broader impact on the world.”

– Mya, Benjamin’s mother

Like many 11-year-olds, Benjamin is very curious. He’s smart, funny, and caring. An avid reader, Benjamin had read all of the Harry Potter books by the end of second grade. However, his family became worried about Benjamin’s future when he was around two-and-a-half-years-old. His preschool teachers were expressing concern regarding how he interacted with his peers.

His parents took him to a psychologist, and Benjamin was diagnosed with autism, a lifelong developmental disability that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and interact socially with others. As he grew older, his behavioral challenges alarmed and distressed his parents.

Looking for answers, Benjamin’s family reached out to Easterseals Midwest. Through Easterseals’ Family Navigation service, which offers support and direction, they became involved in the Parent Training Program. They found the staff members welcoming and encouraging. For the first time, they had hope.

With support and guidance from Parent Trainers, Benjamin’s family learned how to understand him and how to best support him. They learned how to organize activities that allowed him to be successful.

After Parent Training, Benjamin enrolled in PEERS, a program that helps children with autism develop social and conversational skills.

Benjamin has made great strides. He is learning how to handle bullying and how to be a good sport.

For the first time, he has a small circle of friends. They get together to play video games. Benjamin’s parents see these accomplishments as victories. Their vision for Benjamin is a happy, successful life as an active, contributing member of society. After seeing how far he has come, they believe he is on the right path.

photo Angie “She’s very proud of her life right now and her situation. It has boosted her sense of self-worth and accomplishment.”

– Harmon, Angie’s father

Angie was born four weeks prematurely. When she was nine months old, her parents learned that she would have a developmental disability. As she grew up in her supportive and tight-knit family, Angie enjoyed an active lifestyle. Along with her siblings, she went camping, fishing, and played softball.

However, as she grew older, she and her parents had a new goal for her – independence.

Angie and her parents began to explore organizations that provided community living services.

Easterseals Midwest provided Angie’s parents with service options that they felt could give Angie a better future. With help from Easterseals’ staff, Angie and her parents developed a customized plan that would best enable Angie to meet her personal goals and aspirations. Additionally, Easterseals helped Angie’s family advocate for the funding she would need to successfully live on her own.

When Angie moved into her own apartment, she was both scared and excited. Her direct support professional supported her during the transition process. After settling into her new routine, Angie has thrived. Spunky and independent, she accomplishes what she puts her mind to.

Enjoying this new chapter in her life, Angie has a part-time job at the Center of Clayton. During the week, she works out with a personal trainer and attends Community Connections, a program with Easterseals’ Employment Services. Currently, she participates in volunteer opportunities that will help her to identify what kinds of employment she will find rewarding.

Her direct support professional provides Angie with transportation to her many activities, as well as coaching to improve her independent living skills.

With support from her Easterseals team and her parents, Angie has blossomed. As she learns more and continues to develop her skills, Angie moves each day towards a more independent and fulfilling life.

photo Will “When Will gets up, he is happy to go somewhere, and he is happy when he returns home, that means that something right is happening in his world – that’s success.”

– Tricia, Will’s mother

When he was two years old, Will Bolster was diagnosed with autism. Despite intensive early intervention efforts, his verbal skills did not improve.

Will and his parents began to attend Easterseals Midwest’s Parent Training program. Parent Training is not just about teaching children new skills; it’s about teaching parents how to best understand their child and the nature of their disability. This free, two-week intensive course provides support to parents as they receive issue-specific behavior training. Participants learn through group instruction, individual sessions, and guided observation with qualified trainers.

Parent Training laid the foundation for Will’s future success. As he entered his teen years, Will began developing important workplace skills through volunteering, his ultimate goal being employment.

In Missouri, adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities face a 92% unemployment rate. As an Employment First agency, Easterseals is dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities find fulfilling and competitive employment opportunities in the community. From developing workplace skills to providing on-the-job support, Easterseals’ Employment Services equip program participants for successful job placement and work experiences.

With the assistance of a supported employment service, Will began the job hunt. His motivation and drive to find work rewarded him with a job offer from Schnucks.

Will’s journey began with learning important life skills through Parent Training. Now, gainfully employed, Will is doing well, happy to be working in the community.

Our Public Policy Objectives • Raise community awareness around disability and disability issues • Create opportunities for people with disabilities to live and participate in their communities • Eliminate barriers for people with disabilities so that public spaces are safe and accessible • Expand opportunities for civic access • Ensure equal access to new and emerging technology • Pursue equal employment opportunities for people of all abilities • Provide access to safe, affordable housing for people with disabilities

Easterseals Midwest Board of Directors Rich Harkwell Sean Donlin Kent Schien

| Chairman | Immediate Past Chairman | Vice Chairman

Jacqueline Bardgett Bill Bartelsmeyer Dr. Tricia Bolster M.D. G.T. Cozad III

Mark Darrell Christina Green Kim Hakim Timothy McCraw

Wendy Sullivan | Chief Executive Officer John Adkins | Chief Financial Officer Tom Barry | Chief Development Officer

William Florent | Treasurer Lynn Wallis | Secretary Judy Kent | Emeritus Director Gregory Meier Michael Monson Lydia Padilla Dr. Robert Woerther

Kathy Woods Brian Wright

Jeanne Marshall | Chief Program Officer Greg Kramer | Vice President of Public Policy

Together, we’re changing the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day.