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Aging

Vision/Goal:

Aging parents of adults with developmental disabilities will feel confident that the needs of their sons and daughters will be met in the future.

Background:

In the past, many people with developmental disabilities lived and died in institutions, unconnected to family and friends. Today, it’s the norm for people with developmental disabilities to participate in community life with the support of their families and a system of publicly-funded long term care.

With good community services and involvement of families, people with disabilities are living longer. Unlike the former era, most people with disabilities outlive their parents. At public hearings and a focus group sponsored by WCDD, parents of adults with developmental disabilities said they wanted help with planning.

They put a high priority on getting help with planning for the time when they would no longer be available to help their sons and daughters. In particular, they wanted to make sure their family member would find and keep safe, affordable and inclusive housing. They also wanted a way to insure that family resources would be available in a way that would not threaten eligibility for disability-related benefits such as SSI and Medicaid.

Objective:

1. Establish a statewide housing trust
   A specialized housing trust tailored to the needs of adults with developmental disabilities and their families will allow 20 people with disabilities to assure their housing is permanent, safe, and affordable.
2. Sustain a special needs trust account option
   175 people with developmental disabilities will have a special needs trust account to allow them to fulfill needs not covered by public benefits.

Funding:

2003: $20,000
2004: $10,000
2005: $10,000

Collaborators:

Wisconsin Initiatives in Sustainable Housing, Inc. (WISH), Arc Disability Association, DHFS Division of Elder and Disability Services

Strategies:

1. Objective 1:
   Establish a statewide housing trust that will enable families to donate their housing and other assets to assure permanent, safe, and affordable housing for family members with developmental disabilities. Provide the outreach, education, and counseling needed to make prudent decisions regarding participation in the housing trust.
   
2. Objective 2:
   Strengthen a pooled special needs trust option by developing needed legal, financial and administrative frameworks. Provide outreach, education, and counseling in developing Individual Benefits Planning for priority special needs.