Acting Director Fenton has established another work group to make recommendations
for developing flexible day services. At this point we are stuck with an antiquated system
of day services, which because of low rates, the Division has created a system of
segregated day settings over the years. These segregated settings and the lack of real
employment opportunities for individuals are coming under the scrutiny of the Ligas
Court Monitor and the new CMS Rules for Community.
We all realize that flexible day services is an important support that needs to be
available for individuals in the Home & Community-Based Waiver.
Director Fenton is wise to address this serious issue now while the Division of
Developmental Disabilities can formulate its own plan rather than having the Court or
CMS do it for us.
The work group, which I am told is over thirty members, met last Thursday. It is staffed
by Mary Spriggs Ploessi. The Arc is represented on the work group.
Recently there have been two work groups on flexible day services. Those two work
groups have already made recommendations for flexible day services and employment.
The recommendations of those two work groups need to be at the top of the agenda for
the Director’s work group on flexible day services.
The most recent work group last year, was for the 1115 Medicaid Transformation Waiver
which made detailed recommendations on:
I would urge Director Fenton and Mary Spriggs Ploessi to utilize the important work
already done on flexible day services rather than attempt to reinvent them.
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org
