u/Scathanna0

They're trying to force people into group homes and worse by destabilizing families and care.

They've even stated before that program growth due to people selecting self directed care over community living (group homes) is a problem.

https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/10/how-did-we-get-here-analysts-officials-unsure-how-disability-agency-overspent/

If you live in Maryland or have family in Maryland who will be harmed by this please write, or encourage them to write, a complaint to CMS before this is approved.

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The DoJ issued a legal opinion on protections that keep states from forcing people with disabilities into institutions... But more than that...

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9 States are challenging section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Directly linked to the DoJ opinion on Olmstead. Which means that this opinion can become our new reality over night. They don't think that it's discrimination to force people into institutions if they have care needs or behavioral issues. They don't think that states can or should be forced to choose the most community-integrated options for individuals with disabilities.

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https://thearc.org/blog/doj-opinion-on-olmstead-threatens-the-right-of-people-with-disabilities-to-live-in-the-community/

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https://www.justice.gov/olc/media/1446701/dl

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There's an executive order in place to force people into institutions if they are homeless or "cannot care for themselves".

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https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/ending-crime-and-disorder-on-americas-streets/

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RFK has made speeches about how autistic people will never be a functioning part of society. Never hold jobs, pay taxes, produce children. About how their needs are "destroying families". He is now in control of Special Education.

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- If you're unfamiliar with the direction that speech like that can take, go to your browser and search the term "Life unworthy of life."

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https://youtu.be/bSElDYtKmF8?is=\\\_zTHB3mvtCDpsvLJ

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Remember last year, when they wanted to build an autism registry? When the fed also took information from medicaid about everyone on it and social security? Guess who else had lists of people born with health problems.

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If you think that passing that decision onto the states is a good thing or that some states will continue to protect the disabled, consider that multiple states, including my home state, Maryland, are already gutting self directed services that keep people with disabilities and higher care needs in their homes through Medicaid and other waivers. They're specifically targeting family members who are paid through the waivers the hardest. Making it hard or impossible to work a different full time job and care for a family member with round the clock needs.

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The right of our most vulnerable people to simply exist is on the line.

Maryland is cutting pay for self directed services.

They're also limiting family members to 60 hours a week, total - not per person and cutting Family As Staff pay by more than any other support staff.

If you live here and your family helps you through self directed services you may want to contact your support brokers or service coordinators for assistance.

Until May 28th you can also submit public comments here wfb.dda@maryland.gov