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DD Committee votes to forward legislative priorities — waivers, blue envelope, affirmative defense recommended
Summary
The Arlington DD Committee voted to ask the Community Services Board to request the county board endorse legislative priorities including increased DD Medicaid waiver funding, expanding the blue envelope to all disabilities, re‑pursuing affirmative defense legislation, improved DD screening at arrest, and collective bargaining rights for disability support professionals.
Sherry (committee member) moved that the Developmental Disabilities Committee forward a set of legislative priorities to the Community Services Board for transmission to the Arlington County Board, and the motion carried with a majority of voting members present.
The priorities Sherry listed and the committee approved were: (1) support for funding of DD Medicaid waiver slots and full funding of waiver services so localities are not forced to cover graduates entirely with local dollars; (2) expand the blue envelope program beyond autism to include people with any disability; (3) continue to press for an affirmative‑defense bill that a governor previously vetoed; (4) improve screening to identify people with DD at arrest and ensure correct medication continuity while incarcerated; and (5) support collective bargaining options for disability support professionals. Sherry said these items were crafted with input from the Arc of Northern Virginia and others and asked that the CSB present the requests to the county board.
The motion to forward the priorities was seconded and approved during a roll call of voting members present. The committee agreed to draft and send a formal letter to the CSB reflecting the motion as amended and to include the priorities in the minutes so county leaders and legislators can review them.
