HD48 - 1994 Report of the Disability Commission
Executive Summary: The Disability Commission was established in 1990 with House Joint Resolution 45 to address service needs, availability of services, costs, and quality of services for persons with physical and sensory disabilities. In its first year of work, the Commission identified unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and complex eligibility criteria, poor coordination and gaps in services, and disincentives in the service systems to rewarding independence and self-sufficiency. The Commission has followed the themes of advocating consumer-focused services, community-based services, and increased service coordination. With this focus, a ten-year plan of action was developed to provide a framework for an integrated service system for individuals with disabilities and their families. For four years, the Commission has addressed the needs of children and adults with disabilities in order to encourage a system of services to meet those needs. This report summarizes the activities of the Commission in 1994 and its recommendations for legislative and financial actions in the 1995 General Assembly Session. |