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Brad Linnenkamp
Age: 36
From: Lawrence, Douglas County
Impact of Budget Cuts: Loss of HCBS/PD Waiver Services
Senator: Mark Buhler (2nd)
Representative: Tom Sloan (45th)
Brad has Cerebral Palsy, uses a wheelchair, and needs help with his laundry and other household chores that are hard for him because of his disability. Some of Brad's daily living activities and household needs take him substantially longer than a PCA to do and wear down his body and muscles physically. Brad needs all his energy for his job at the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK). SACK has advocacy groups and programs for the developmentally disabled, and Brad helps with those programs. If Brad had to spend all his time doing daily chores, he would not have any time or energy to work. A job that gives back to the community, and one that, "I really enjoy, and keeps me busy," says Brad. Furthermore, he needs more help in the winter months when the cold weather affects his body, and his ability to get transportation services. It also affects his scooter as it freezes up and will not run.
While the services he received from the PD Waiver were minimal, they were necessary. Now Brad is being kicked off the waiver because of his score of 17 and he is in danger of losing his job and everything he has. Brad will also find himself paying out of pocket to get help with the tasks he cannot manage himself, making it harder for him to pay the bills. When he runs short of money, he figures he can put off eating for a while and maybe go without heat. (Lawrence Journal World, Dec. 16th)
Marilyn Tuttle
From: Eudora, Douglas County
Impact of Budget Cuts: Taken off HCBS/PD Waiver Waiting List
LOC Score: 29
Senator: Rob Boyer (38th District)
Representative: Mark Buhler (2nd District)
My name is Marilyn Tuttle. I have muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease. It is hard for me to walk and I use leg braces. Before the recent cuts to the SRS budget, I was on the PD Waiver waiting list with a level of care score of 29. I was eligible for the following attendant services: assistance with dressing, meal planning/preparation/cleanup, shopping, laundry, housekeeping, medications, and supervised money management. As a result of the SRS cuts, I became ineligible for PD Waiver services.
Please vote for legislation that restores funding to the SRS budget starting in July of 2003, as Governor Sebelius has proposed. It includes allowing people with PD Waiver level of care scores of 26-29 to be re-eligible for services and back on the waiting list. I really need the personal care services now. Also, more funding is needed for the PD Waiver waiting list so people don't have to wait so long to receive needed services inthe community. Thank you for your consideration of my need for PD Waiver services.
John Jump/Roger Carter l Contents l Nichole Fair
Statewide Independent Living Council of
Kansas
www.silck.org
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