National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Supporting Inclusion for Individuals with IDD

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM), and Myers and Stauffer is proud to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in becoming active participants in their communities of choice. The 2024 DDAM theme as designated by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities is “A World of Opportunities.” The theme recognizes the importance of including those with IDD in our communities by removing obstacles to inclusion.

Here at Myers and Stauffer, we focus on solutions to real-world issues affecting individuals with IDD and their various support systems. Our work emphasizes assistance to state governments to implement programs and policies that promote “people first” and remove barriers to accessing critical health care and wraparound services (defined as supplemental services that provide front to back support of individuals and their families, typically with a holistic or team-based-based approach.)

State Medicaid programs serve individuals of all abilities, but have special programs designed for individuals with disabilities, including IDD. Many of these programs provide services and supports in the community through 1915(c) home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs. In fact, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that individuals with a disability, including IDD, account for the majority of spending under 1915(c) waivers.

Although Medicaid spending is evidence of individuals with IDD receiving services, there are many obstacles that individuals with IDD face when accessing health care. These include but are not limited to service waitlists, direct service provider shortages, and difficulty navigating administrative processes because of communication challenges and health literacy barriers.

How Myers and Stauffer Can Help

Myers and Stauffer is committed to demonstrating “A World of Opportunities” every day through our support of state governments in eliminating barriers for individuals with IDD. Since 1977, we have worked exclusively with local, state, and federal government health and human-services agencies to help them accomplish their most critical goals for the nation’s most vulnerable people. Together with our insight into state programs across the nation, we offer a constellation of value-added competencies our clients are unlikely to find elsewhere. In doing so, not only do we help our clients improve practices, but we help individuals with IDD live as independently as possible in their communities of choice.

  • Uncommon Expertise.

    Our exposure to state Medicaid programs around the nation enables us to draw upon a range of compliance, program integrity, auditing, and other experiences, as well as best practices to address the requirements of important initiatives for clients with varying needs. Armed with insight from decades of subject matter expertise, we provide the diligence needed for the most thorough, reliable results so that these programs will pass legal muster and regulatory scrutiny and ultimately meet legislative requirements.

  • Our People: Our Defining Strength.

    Ultimately, what defines us most as a firm is our people. Many of them have dedicated their careers to supporting government health care and human-services. In fact, the lead partner of our Consulting team is a former Medicaid director, and our Managed Care team is led by a partner with decades of experience. Our talented professionals serve as the cornerstone of our all we do on our clients’ behalf.

  • Mission Based, Purpose Driven.

    We approach our engagements as purpose-driven missions underpinned by integrity, compassion, and vision. We strive to give our clients the support they need to achieve their goals and assure them of the quality they can expect from our expertise. We invite you to join us in our mission to improve health care outcomes for complex populations nationwide.

    Our Consulting and Managed Care teams are well versed in HCBS programs, home health services, federal waivers, and managed care programs, all of which are designed to help our clients support those in their communities who have IDD and need specialized care. Contact a member of our team today.

Author

Julia Kotchevar, MA

Director, HCBS and Behavioral Health

PH 512.340.7425

jkotchevar@mslc.com