Dear Senator Dingfelder and Representative Dembrow, my name is Lily Gardner-Butts I am the sister-in-law of a customer of a support service brokerage located in your district.

My sister-in-law Konnie began receiving brokerage services this past fall. At the time, she was living on her own and had no funded supports around her diagnosis of autism. Once she was enrolled in brokerage services, she was assigned a Personal Agent by the name of Jess Fehsal. Jess worked with the Konnie and the rest of us to craft a plan specific to her community living and inclusion support needs. As a result, she was paired with a provider organization and has been making advances in the areas of interpersonal communication, personal growth and increased living skills to assure her independence. We believe that without brokerage services, Konnie would have ended up in a group home or hospital. Instead, she receives the services she needs to be a functioning member of society.

I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets in the current session.

Dear Representative Beyer and Senator Beyer,

I am Rodney Carver and I live in Springfield.  I want to tell you that my services are very important to me. I get services through Full Access, one of the Oregon Support Services Brokerages.

Brokerage services have helped to find a job and I now have a good income from my wages. I also have a bus pass that I use to get to and from works as well as other appointments and meetings I need to get too. I have also had help from my Personal Agent to find housing after I needed to move from a previous apartment. I also get some help from a Personal Support Worker to help me problem solve, budgeting and paying bills. She also helps me with doctor appointments and following any physician’s orders. With help from the brokerage, I am able to live in my own apartment and maintain my independence.

In the past 1 ½ years brokerages had a 20% budget cut and 700 people in the state totally lost services in October.  More budget cuts mean more services lost.   We need you to keep funding developmental disabilities services.  HB 4036 will help us directly with more funding to brokerages.  That is a good start.

If you would like to see some of our faces and hear our stories, please visit www.dearlegislator.org, a website we set up last session so we could speak directly with our lawmakers.

Please help me stay independent in our community.  I need your support!

Dear Senator Chip Shields and Representative Lew Frederick,

My name is Erin Graff and I am a constituent of your district.  I work as the Assistant Director of a support services brokerage agency in Portland which provides support to 428 people with developmental disabilities in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.  I am writing today to ask that you oppose further cuts to targeted case management services in brokerages.

Currently, brokerages serve approximately 7000 Oregonians with disabilities statewide.  Since October 2010, the system has already experienced a 20% reduction to funding.  Further cuts will result in brokerage staff lay-offs and cuts to benefits for brokerage personnel.  Most brokerages are small businesses that might go out of business altogether if cuts continue.  In addition to the toll these cuts would take on the livelihood of hard-working Oregonians, they will also affect the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable citizens.  Further cuts will result in higher caseloads, slower response time to customer needs and less thorough follow up on abuse allegations and other incidents.

Brokerages provide a cost-effective means of providing in-home and community-based services to people with disabilities in our community.  Please support us and protect our funding through this legislative session.

Dear Senator Jackie Dingfelder and Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer. My name is Claire Renfrow.  I am a customer of a support service brokerage located in your district. The services I receive from my brokerage to help me be more independent in my life include receiving supports from a community integration program, receiving case management and transportation supports. I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets in the upcoming February short session.

Dear Senator Rosenbaum and Representative Kopel Bailey,

My name is Veronica Thompson.  I am an Inclusion Specialist at On the Move Community Integration. I work with customers enrolled in support service brokerages. I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets.

Dear Senator Olsen and Representative Hunt, my name is Deb Bryant. I am a provider of support services and provide adults with disabilities the following supports: Accessing their community, supporting them in their employment, assisting them with promoting their independence, money management, and preserving their overall health and safety. I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets.

Dear Senator Chip Shields and Representative Lew Frederick,

My name is Kaaren Londahl. I am one of the (700) support service brokerage customers who lost my brokerage services in October 2011 as a result of the last legislative session budget cuts.  My life has changed dramatically since I lost my services in October. I now have to private-pay for any disability-related supports I receive and I no longer have the support of my brokerage Personal Agent or providers to help me live safely and independently in the community.  I have a lot of medical expenses and struggle to meet all my needs.

I believe we are all human beings alike and I want my brokerage services back.  You must listen to the needs of people with disabilities in the community.

I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to developmental disability services budgets in the upcoming February short session.  Thousands of Oregonians with disabilities depend on it.

 

Check out Kaaren’s advocacy efforts in 2011 here.

Dear Senator Diane Rosenbaum and Representative Caroline Tomei, my name is Joy’e Willman and I am a provider through a support service brokerage.

I work for someone who uses a service brokerage. She was without services for quite a while and she had some problems with people taking advantage of her. We have created a great team through the brokerage and she is now living independently and is happy with her situation. She has fewer issues and goes into hospital crisis less often which saves a lot of money for her and the state. If these brokerages were cut then we would have some serious problems that would in turn cost more to deal with in the long run.

I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets

Dear Senator Charles William Thomsen and Representative Patrick Sheehan, my name is Ruth. I am a customer of a support service brokerage. I have people that come over to help me with my food, and going grocery shopping.  My providers also help me to keep my house clean and support me.  They also help me to pay my bills so that I don’t get lost in the shuffle.  I would be lost without them!  I would probably be in an adult care home, and I would freak out there.  I like living in my own home.  I also go to Port City, a day program that supports me to make pottery and weaving.  I have been able to meet a lot of people and make new friends there.  I go one day a week, and I really look forward to that day because it gets me out of the house!

I have a Personal Agent that comes over and helps me to make sure that I have what I need to live on my own.  People who know me can see the growth that has come with working with the brokerage.  I have become more independent, and I feel safer with the support that I have.  I didn’t know where to go for help and support before.  Now, I have the support that I need to keep myself safe.  People see a difference in me, I have more confidence.  My church friends notice that I have come through some tough times a winner!!!

I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets.

Ruth recorded a video to her legislators last budget cycle. Check it out here.

Dear Senator Chip Shields and Representative Lew Fredrick, my name is Tracey Brown, I am a provider for support service brokerages located in your district. I am writing you today to ask that you oppose the proposed cuts to brokerage budgets.