I strongly support the Arc of Northern Virginia’s comments and strongly oppose the proposed 56-hour cap on DD Waiver CDPA care and the proposed replacement of service facilitators with a brokerage model.

Families like mine are already navigating an incredibly complicated system while doing everything possible to care for the people we love. Yet with each new change, caregivers seem to be asked to take on more while the supports available to our families are reduced.

Please remember that behind every policy, waiver, and statistic is a real person and a real family. We are parents, spouses, siblings, and caregivers throughout the Commonwealth who make sacrifices every single day so our loved ones can live safe, meaningful lives in their homes and communities. These decisions have consequences far beyond what can be captured on a spreadsheet.

The waiver system is already difficult to understand and navigate. Service facilitators help bridge that gap. They come into our homes, see firsthand at least a small part of what our daily lives look like, and help us understand and access services that can make an enormous difference for our families.

Please do not make an already difficult system harder for the families who depend on it. Do not take away one of the people who helps us navigate it. Most importantly, please listen to the families and caregivers who live with the consequences of these decisions every day.