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Increasing Understanding, Use, and Control of Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services in Virginia's Waivers

Overview

Currently in Virginia, individuals with disabilities can receive consumer-directed personal assistance services in several Home and Community Based Services Waivers. Individuals who use consumer-directed services need to have comprehensive information about available options and the support necessary to ensure that they are able to personally manage their services and make informed choices. This project seeks active involvement from recipients of personal assistance services, family members, case managers, and service facilitators in determining ways to increase individual choice, control, and responsibility over personal assistance services and options. Through this project 150 individuals who use consumer-directed services are being interviewed to learn about their experiences using services. Additionally, the work of this project collaborates with and builds on current consumer-directed initiatives in Virginia by designing and developing materials and resources about self direction and consumer-directed services to share with individuals, family members, providers, and other supporters. The project is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Major Activities

• Seek input directly from consumers of personal assistance services on their satisfaction with services through interviews.
• Develop educational and technical assistance materials and resources that promote awareness on the possibilities and options for personal assistance services and that strengthen the ability of individuals to maximize the use of services and supports.
• Expand technical assistance by developing a network of technical assistance providers to share information with consumers and by providing opportunities for network members to become more knowledgeable in consumer direction.

Contacts

Parthy Dinora at (804)8270016, padinora@vcu.edu
Eileen Hammar at (804)827-0202, eghammar@vcu.edu
Dawn Machonis at (804)828-1335, dmachonis@vcu.edu
Dana Yarbrough at (804)828-0352, dvyarbrough@vcu.edu
Tera Yoder at (804)828-3879, tyoder@vcu.edu

Web Address: www.vcu.edu/partnership/cdservices