I feel compelled to share my perspective on Vanguard Landing and the discussion surrounding Medicaid waiver approval.

I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the care, thought, and intentionality that Vanguard Landing staff have put into creating a community where adults with intellectual disabilities can live full, meaningful, and increasingly independent lives. What has stood out to me is the emphasis on the individual. Each resident has their own personality, interests, abilities, goals, and preferences, and the support provided is designed to recognize those differences rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach.

I have also had the opportunity to tour Vanguard Landing. The cottages and townhomes are thoughtfully designed to feel like home. The environment has been developed around the needs of the residents while also creating opportunities for them to establish routines, pursue interests, build relationships, and develop a sense of belonging.

Importantly, that sense of community extends beyond Vanguard Landing’s property. I have witnessed a genuine effort to connect residents with the broader community and create opportunities for them to participate, develop skills, build relationships, pursue employment, and contribute in meaningful ways.

Residents have already gained employment, and there continues to be an emphasis on developing job skills and creating opportunities to engage with local businesses and organizations. In my view, this is an important distinction. Supporting someone in a residential setting is only one part of helping them live a meaningful life. Purpose, relationships, employment, community participation, and the ability to make choices about one’s own life are also important components of independence and quality of life.

Resident choice is another aspect of Vanguard Landing that I believe deserves consideration. Individuals are supported in making decisions about how they spend their time, what activities they participate in, where they go, and who they spend time with. Receiving support should not mean surrendering control over the decisions that shape your daily life. Effective support should help an individual exercise as much choice and independence as their circumstances allow.

I also believe it is important to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and conclusions that may be formed without considering the full picture. When public funding and the well-being of individuals receiving services are involved, questions, oversight, and due diligence are not only appropriate but necessary. At the same time, those evaluations should consider the totality of what a provider is offering and how its approach affects the people it serves.

That evaluation can include the quality of the living environment, the extent to which services are individualized, opportunities for employment and community participation, the ability of residents to exercise meaningful choice, and the experiences of residents and their families. These considerations provide a more complete picture than focusing on any single aspect of a residential community.

I also hope Vanguard Landing can be viewed as an opportunity to encourage continued improvement across the broader provider community. The emphasis on individualized support, the quality of the living environment, opportunities for employment and community involvement, and the degree of choice available to residents represent areas where providers can continue to learn from one another and raise expectations. When providers strive to create better experiences and greater opportunities for the people they serve, the ultimate beneficiaries are the individuals and families relying on those services.

This is also why I think it is important to keep the Medicaid waiver decision in perspective. Vanguard Landing is not asking every adult with an intellectual disability to choose its community. It is seeking the opportunity to become another option available to eligible individuals and their families.

Every individual has different needs, circumstances, goals, and expectations. What works exceptionally well for one person may not be the right fit for another. Having a range of legitimate options allows individuals and their families to evaluate those choices and determine which environment best aligns with their particular needs and future goals.

For me, that is ultimately what this conversation should include. Reasonable and thoughtful evaluation are important, but so is recognizing what Vanguard Landing provides and what residents and families could gain from having another option available to them.

The adults who may ultimately call Vanguard Landing home, and the families who help support those decisions, deserve the opportunity to consider it alongside other available choices and determine for themselves whether it is the right community for their needs, goals, and future.