Some Questions To Ponder - Understanding the Problem

Imagine that you are an organization that serves 100 people with developmental disabilities. Imagine that your budget allows you to serve only 60 of them.

How do you deal with the problem that 40 of the people you serve never receive your services?

Do you simply tell them "maybe next year, when we have more money in the budget?"

Do you tell them "we will put you on a waiting list,and someday, maybe, we will provide you with services?"

Do you identify clients with needs that are more easily served,and give them priority,or identify clients who have greater, more complex, more expensive needs, and give them priority?

Do you provide services for a certain period of time to the 60, and then cut off or diminish their services, and begin to serve the 40? Or do the 40 risk waiting forever?

No good answers, admittedly. But aren't the questions important, and isn't the discussion essential?

If the 40, and their allies, are not at the table to have the discussion, what are the chances that their needs will be addressed?

Consider the following:

In Florida, as of May 2008:


31,028 persons with developmental disabilities received services from APD.

40% of people with developmental disabilities who are eligible for APD's services are on the waiting list.

The number of persons with developmental disabilities who are on the Medicaid waiver wait list was 23,171.

There were 10,244 persons age 6 to age 22 waiting for services.

Over the age of 22, there were 6,147 persons waiting, and waiting.

Of those receiving services in Florida, 20,000 out of the 31,028 who are receiving services live in the family home.

Of those who are on the wait list, 14,503 clients live in the family home compared to 1,254 living either independently, in group homes or institutions.

Who is advocating for those who are forced to wait?

Is the discussion even occurring? Do those responsible for serving clients with developmental disabilities advocate for those on the waiting list?

We want to hear from you. What is your experience like? What are your thoughts?