Employment, training services for disabled face cloudy future
Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI)Aug 27, 2014
"It's hands-on, and there's a lot of help, and that's what I like about it," Hartfield said. "They teach us job skills, people skills (and) how to act, so it's a good thing."
For months the future of such facilities as CRI, REACH and the
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Local agencies currently are responding to the state
"They don't address how they're going to deal with facility-based prevocational services," Lemanski said, noting the waiver states multiple times it needs more information from CMS.
DHS Secretary
Without that information included in the plan, Lemanski and others worry facilities such as CRI and REACH could cease to exist.
"We're trying to not illustrate it as worst-case scenario illustrations, but in the same breath we have to be realistic that if it's not in the plan it's not going to exist," Lemanski said.
DHS is accepting public comment from involved parties on the transition plan through
It is unfair to ask for comment without all the pieces, Lemanski said, which is why many are pushing for CMS to give more information so DHS can issue a revised plan and open it up for another public comment period.
"Also in the same breath to continue to preserve the full array of services, which includes community based services and facility based services," Lemanski said.
Some clients, many of whom also have worked in a community setting, said they prefer sheltered workshops and are concerned about what would happen if they close.
"If they close this, where are the people going to go?" asked
Without her job at CRI, Koepke said, "I would probably just stay home and do nothing."
Parents and caretakers shared similar concerns.
"My daughter worked in the community for over 18 years, but it was always limited hours. She didn't really have peers, it was fast-paced, and it got to be hard and frustrating," she said. "Eventually she came to the workshop later and has peers and has a safe environment."
"When she wakes up in the morning she has a purpose," Wiesner said. "We all need that."
Workshop opposition
Others are not as supportive of workshops. Groups such as the
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Walz-Chojnacki said the notion that choices will be taken away by the DHS change is false.
"If anything, expanded choices should be available to families and individuals who have been waiting for new options in their communities," he said.
Lemanski said the debate shouldn't be about community-based versus facility-based services, noting about half of CRI clients work in community-based settings.
"What we're saying is don't throw the baby out with the bath water," he said. "Don't force a one size fits all policy. Let the full array (of services) continue."
Rhoades said she supports a "compendium of employment," noting individuals should have the choice of where they want to work. She submitted a letter to CMS, but said DHS is limited since the waiver is due in October.
Miels can be reached at 715-833-9214, 800-236-7077 or emily.miels@ecpc.com.
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