Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Developmental Disabilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County speakers clarify developmental disabilities services, numbers and upcoming special needs events
Summary
At the Sept. 16 meeting, a county staff member discussed the scope and funding of developmental disabilities services, gave participant counts and promoted upcoming town halls and a special-needs fishing event.
During the Sept. 16 Lawrence County commissioners meeting, a staff member identified as Julie addressed commissioners and attendees about the county's developmental disabilities (DD) services, the program's funding and outreach events.
Julie said the DD program serves individuals both in schools and in adult services. She gave several figures during the discussion: an initial estimate of “1,525,” a later statement that the DD services total about “625,” and that the school-related program serves “around 60” students. She told commissioners roughly 10% of the DD caseload is school-based. “The school serves around 60,” Julie said. “So school 60 but the d d services as a whole has 625.”
Julie described funding complexities: she said some school-related services are funded by the Department of Education and that the county pays certain excess costs. She also said Medicaid covers some people but “it doesn't pay for those services,” referring to many adult DD services the county funds. “They get Medicaid, but it doesn't pay for those services,” Julie said.
Commissioners and staff discussed public outreach. Julie mentioned town-hall meetings about a topic identified as “Lehi,” including one on Monday at OU Southern and another in October at the Upper Township fire department, and asked staff to distribute flyers. Commissioners suggested posting clarifying information on the county Facebook page to address public confusion about what the county funds versus what schools cover.
Julie also invited residents to a special-needs fishing event this weekend, saying participants should meet at the Tractor Supply parking lot at 8:30 a.m. The invitation was open: “Anybody from your school or anyone else out here that's hearing this, you're welcome will come. It doesn't matter. If you just wanna fish, show up,” she said.
Julie said she would double-check specific numbers where the transcript showed inconsistent figures. The transcript does not identify Julie's official job title in county government.
