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Thanks to legislators for their help for the disabled

Thanks to legislators for their help for the disabled

Date published: 5/27/2004

As a parent of a son disabled by Down syndrome, I want to thank our local representatives for their outstanding leadership and for their insistence that additional revenue be provided in the new state budget to address the urgent needs of the disabled living in Virginia communities.

As a result of the strong leadership and concerned support of Sens. John Chichester and Edd Houck; Dels. Bill Howell, Bobby Orrock, and Albert Pollard; and other members of the General Assembly, 700 new community mental-retardation waiver slots will begin to address urgent needs.

Also, 160 new MR slots were approved for institutional-facility discharge, and 300 MR slots were approved for Day Support Waivers. This new funding will go a long way toward reducing the current waiting list of more than 4,000.

Thanks also to the many advocates, The Arc of Virginia, ARC-Rappahannock, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board and its professional staff, Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, many community businesses, and others who so willingly support our families and the disabled children and adults of our community.

Last but not least, a special thanks to The Free Lance-Star for your editorial support.

Charles Cooper

Stafford

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Date published: 5/27/2004