We who sign this statement are members of organizations and citizens that care about adults and children with disabilities, elderly persons, and people who provide family care in New York State. We join with others in support of the following statement of beliefs about people who need support to live in their own homes in the community.

BECAUSE:

Laws should support adults and children with disabilities and elderly persons to be a part of their community and to have choice and control in their lives.

Laws should respect and support family members to help adults and children with disabilities and elderly persons to live good lives in their own homes or with their families.

AND BECAUSE:

Medicaid is a major source of funding for supports for children and adults with disabilities and elderly persons.

THEREFORE:

We call on all public officials to make sure that Medicaid, and other programs, protect the rights of all people with disabilities and elderly persons. Specifically, we call on public officials to put the following beliefs into practice:

Adults and children with disabilities, elderly persons, and family caregivers must be given real choices between getting supported in their own homes, rather than being forced to live in institutions or nursing homes.

Medicaid, and other programs, must give, at least, the same amount of money to support people to live in their own homes as they do for people in nursing homes and other institutions.

All people should have the choice to control the money and the support they need to live in their own homes.