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 replacement of service facilitators with the brokerage model.

I have friends and neighbors raising children with disabilities, and I have seen how much these families give every single day. They are balancing careers, caregiving, medical and therapy appointments, advocacy, and the countless responsibilities that come with caring for someone they love.

Before making another decision that could reduce support or make their lives more difficult, I ask you to consider what it would be like to live just 24 hours in their shoes. Families should not have to continually fight against a complicated system while also fighting to get their loved ones the care and support they need. How we support people with disabilities and their families says something about who we are as a community. I am proud to be a Virginian. Let’s make Virginia a place that supports these families, listens to them, and makes their lives easier, not harder.