Most parents expect that their children will grow up, move out, and live on their own. But for families of children with disabilities, the future looks different. Many of these children will need lifelong support—emotionally, physically, and financially.
Providing lifelong support for a child with disabilities can be incredibly expensive. Parents face both typical parenting expenses plus ongoing medical care, therapy, specialized equipment, home modifications, personal care aids, school and job supports.
That’s why Virginia’s Medicaid Waivers are so important. They help children and adults with disabilities get the care they need to live safely at home, be a part of their community, and have the best opportunity to thrive.
These waivers are important because they offer services like housing, job supports, nursing care, crisis help, and assistive technology. Medicaid waivers are for people who would normally need care in a nursing home or similar facility but instead get that care at home or in their community.
Virginia offers several Medicaid waiver programs, including:
- Developmental Disability (DD) Waivers: These serve individuals of any age with a developmental disability, such as autism or intellectual disability, who qualify for institutional level of care. Options include the Building Independence (BI) Waiver for adults 18 and older who can live independently with minimal supports, the Family & Individual Support (FIS) Waiver for individuals living with family or in their own homes, and the Community Living (CL) Waiver for those needing 24/7 support.
- Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) Waiver: These waivers serve people of all ages with physical or medical needs.
Encompass Community Supports (ECS), as your local community services board, is the entry point for the DD Waivers.
If a child or adult loses their Medicaid waiver, the impact can be devastating. They may lose access to critical services, face caregiver burnout, and struggle financially. Parents may have to quit work to care for their child full time, leading to more economic strain. Without waiver support, families may be forced to place their loved ones in institutions—not because it’s better, but because it’s the only option left.
Waivers are not luxuries, they are lifelines. They allow families to keep loved ones at home, in their communities, and surrounded by those who know and love them most.
Call your local legislator today to oppose Medicaid funding cuts: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative