Fulfill the Promise - Background and Update
Background
In 2006, the Tennessee Legislature appointed a Task Force under the auspices of the Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services to investigate the gap in
Members of the Task Force included persons with developmental disabilities, family members, representatives of non-profits serving the population in need (including UCP, the Arc, and the Autism Society) Tn Council on Developmental Disabilities, TennCare, DMRS, TDMH&DD, Commission on Aging and Disabilities, TN Division of Rehabilitation Services, University Centers for Excellence on Disabilities, and the Disability Law and Advocacy Center. Representatives from the TN Disability Coalition observed and monitored the process.
The Task Force worked intensively for a year to develop the recommendations they delivered to the legislature in a report called “Fulfill the Promise.” (Go to: www.fulfillthepromise.org)
The “Promise” refers to provisions of Tennessee State Title 33, which made persons with Developmental Disabilities other then Mental Retardation eligible for Developmental Disabilities services beginning in March 2002. The citizens impacted include individuals who are born with severe disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, and other disabilities acquired during the developmental stages of life.
Despite the promise of state Title 33, no services have ever been implemented, and the only division of state government serving persons with Developmental Disabilities, i.e., the Division of Mental Retardation, was placed under the Department of Finance and Administration, leaving the remaining group of persons with Developmental Disabilities without a place in state government.
The Legislation Today
The Fulfill the Promise bills currently before the state legislature, SB 2651 and HB 2569, are sculpted directly from the recommendations of the Task Force. The bills have bi-partisan support among sponsors in both the House and the Senate. Bill sponsors encourage families who are impacted by developmental disabilities other than mental retardation to contact their own representatives and ask for their support of the legislation. This is particularly important as the bills move into the legislative committees.
Since delivery of the report, grassroots advocates from across the state have held local meetings with legislators, giving families the opportunity to share stories about their own situations. Families have written and called their legislators. They also attended “Disability Days on the Hill” and met with legislators in their offices at the
Many families report to legislators that the cost of caring for their children and family members with severe disabilities without benefit of Home- and Community-Based supports has driven them into poverty and has resulted in instances of divorce and multiple physical and mental health problems among caregivers. Individuals with disabilities are impacted because they do not have access to direct support services, after school and daycare services, therapies, and other essential services typically provided by other states in their DD waiver programs.
Senate Sponsors:
Tracy, Finney R., Burchett, Roller, Black, Williams, Finney L, Johnson,
House Sponsors:
Curtiss, Ford, Roach, Williams, Overbey, Hawk, Vaughn, Rinks, Eldridge, McDaniel, Gresham, Armstrong, Tindell, Jones U, Turner L, Brown, Favors, DeBerry L, Buck, Pruitt, Kernell, Miller L, Towns, Jones S, Fraley, Turner M, Briley, Brooks H, Cobb C, Maggart, Naifeh, Fitzhugh, Shaw, Todd, Montgomery, McCord, Crider, Pinion, DuBois, Johnson P, Niceley, Shepard, West, Sargent, Gilmore, Hardaway, Odom, Mumpower, Hood, Strader, Dunn, Lundberg, and Hill.
If your legislators have not yet signed on as sponsor please give them a call or drop them a note to ask them to help Fulfill the Promise by supporting SB 2651/HB 2569.
Become a Fulfill the Promise Volunteer
For more information about the Fulfill the Promise Campaign.
Special Thanks to Deana Claiborne of United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee for this update.
14 Mar 2008 11:52 am MTH 0 comments