Health Care Crisis For Developmentally Disabled Focus of Salem Town Hall

Due to diminishing resources and the lack of cost of living adjustments, providers are struggling to maintain quality staff and facilities in Oregon

Activists like David Been fight for the rights of developmentally disabled citizens.

(SALEM) - Twelve state Legislators, along with individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers, will gather in Salem next week to try and find an answer to Oregon`s under-funded services for the developmentally disabled.

Some 3,000 Oregonians with Developmental Disabilities must have twenty-four hour support, formerly provided in state institutions which have now closed.

Funds have dwindled since Measure 5 resulting in an infrastructure crisis within the community DD Provider system.

Advocates say that staff turnover at care facilities is over 60 percent and rising, with stagnant salaries, reduced benefits and diminishing pool of qualified applicants. Twenty percent of Oregon DD service providers have closed since 1991.

Advocates add that if the community system fails in part or completely, the state will be forced to find alternatives that are either substantially more expensive, or poorer quality or both.

State Senator Frank Morse said "It is absolutely essential that the state not only recognize the importance of the DD provider community, but adequately fund them as well. We have such ground to make up in this regard. They are our valued partners and we need to treat them as such."

Morse along with Senator Jackie Winters will facilitate the meeting, with opening remarks by Senator Peter Courtney. The town hall is open to the public, and will be held on Wednesday beginning at 3:00 PM at the Salem Senior Center, 1055 Erixon St.

The Oregon DD Coalition and the Oregon Rehabilitation Association are hosting this first of seven Town Halls planned throughout Oregon.

Town Halls are also planned for Medford, Pendelton-La Grande, Eugene, two in Portland, and Bend. Dates and time for those Town Halls will be announced at a later date.
For more information visit www.shangrilacorp.org.