Module
3 Self-Direction: An
Introduction for Families and Professionals
Today, there is recognition
on a national level of barriers that keep people with disabilities from
enjoying their Constitutional freedoms and the promise of community living.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal Medicaid agency
states, “While more people may be served (through Medicaid waivers) the
opportunities for community presence and participation, the interface with
the informal caregiver system and generic community supports, and the support
for individuals to sustain valued social and economic roles in the community
have not necessarily improved.” [CMS, 2001]
Efforts are being made
nationally and in most states (including Virginia), to eliminate barriers and
to promote the integration of individuals with disabilities into the
mainstream of American life.
