Following is the content of an email update on the Support Services Waiver
we received from The Arc:

Priority Continues to Provide Support Services Waiver
to Students Leaving Special Education

The Arc received several emails last week from school personnel asking if a change had been made in the priority criteria for the Support Services Waiver for young adults leaving school. As you know, The Arc has been working hard to make sure students with special needs and their families know they can receive services from the Support Services Waiver without being on a waiting list, thanks to this priority criteria. Students can apply now to be ready to transition onto the waiver when they end their high school experience in the spring. On average, 250-350 people per year have been able to take advantage of this opportunity over the past several years.

In consideration of the extraordinary pressures on the state budget, the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services was asked to estimate how many people may apply and be found eligible under the priority criteria for the SS Waiver. Unfortunately, the request was somehow misinterpreted, leading some to incorrectly believe a change had been made. We have confirmed that there has been no change in the effort to move students leaving high school onto the Support Services waiver. BDDS is in fact only requesting information to better predict projected costs in a very difficult budget year. Students transitioning from special education programs should still apply for the Support Services Medicaid Waiver. As always, services will not begin until they leave school.

The Arc of Indiana will continue to monitor this and other budget issues very carefully. The state's fiscal situation continues to be very difficult and the future impact on programs for people with developmental disabilities is uncertain.

We are not immune from the impact of the difficult economy. We have been asked to prepare for a 20% reduction in the contract we receive for The Arc Network – our statewide network of family advocates and self-advocates. We are in the process of reworking the budget, and realize that while in the big scheme of things the savings will be small, any savings captured here may help avoid cuts in other areas.