I am writing as a layperson, not speaking here for any organization. I have become somewhat familiar with this regulatory area as a result of knowing two families that have adult children with autism. Both families are amazingly active in their communities while fully meeting family responsibilities, and have taught me that their situation does not have to be one that isolates either the disabled individual or that individual's family. They have taught me that we are all better off when care and understanding are shared in creative but accountable ways, and that the Commonwealth's resources are better spent in enriching all of our lives than in sequestering individuals in a ghetto of disability. My own expertise is in community organizing. For more than 25 years, I have worked for national, statewide and community-level organizations seeking to solve problems. In every case, I have found that small-scale structures that reward initiative and also require accountability can accomplish amazing things -- from solving environmental issues to meeting housing needs. The micro-board and circle of support ideas appear to apply this same truth to the task of responsibly meeting the needs of Virginians with disabilities. I hope that they will be fully integrated into your regulatory structure, as is proposed by other commenters. These tools also seem to me to be consistent with the general direction that Virginia has chosen by selecting Tim Kaine as our Governor. His Start Strong proposal for early education, his proposals to give greater strength to local decision-making in transportation, and particularly his second Executive Order, calling for community integration of people with disabilities, all project a vision of mutual responsibility within community, supported by coherent and accountable structures at a level that works for real people. This represents what Virginians want and what Virginia should be. Micro-boards and circles of support, it seems to me, offer a practical and humane model that makes good sense for the population for which your agency has responsibility, and may have significant value for other communities and populations. I hope you will not only solidify and increase your use of these tools but will share the experiences that result with our Commonwealth. Thanks for your consideration of these comments and for the vital work that you do. Larry Yates PO Box 245 Maurertown VA 22644 lamaryates@igc.org