Each year, the TASH Conference strengthens the disability field by connecting attendees to innovative information and resources, facilitating connections between stakeholders within the disability movement, and helping attendees reignite their passion for an inclusive world. This year’s conference theme, “Gateway to Equity,” explores inclusive communities, schools, and workplaces that support people with disabilities, including those with complex support needs, in living a fair, just, and balanced life. Return to TASH website.
Community Living Services (CLS) is a large nonprofit corporation serving metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. CLS promotes community inclusion, full citizenship, and a "self-determined life" for nearly 4000 people of all ages with developmental disabilities. CLS is a legacy organization originally formed 33 years ago to help people move out of state run institutions into the group homes developed in the community. CLS is the largest single Medicaid Habilitation Supports waiver provider in the state serving persons with significant disabilities. CLS has undertaken significant transformation over the past 20 years. In early 1990s CLS oversaw 250 6 bed licensed group homes, housing over 1400 people. In 2016, 85 group homes remain housing 376 people, 1200 people are supported in their own home and the remaining 1400 are supported within their family. This presentation tells of the actual steps taken, built on the principles of Self-determination, to shift control away from provider operated systems and professional guardianship agencies to people who in growing numbers live in homes they own or rent, with housemates and support staff of their choice. Consequently, the changes made in operations have also resulted in CLS being proactively aligned with the HCBS rules. This will also be described during the course of the presentation.
Objectives: After completing this session participants will be able to: 1. Recount the 5 operating principles of self-determination. 2. Identify the mechanism used to bring each principle to practice. 3. List 4 ways control is shifted from the agency to the individual served. 4. Describe 3 techniques used to maintain and grow a base of support during transition. 5. Recognize 5 key qualifications emanating from the final HCBS Rule and how CLS is meeting them.