Can you imagine a place in Hampton Roads where adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities realize their full potential and goals through experiencing personal independence, purposeful employment and fulfilling social interaction? Now imagine that this community, situated on beautiful acreage with walking trails, gardens and orchards, is also home to companion animals, horses, shops and classrooms, and filled with innovative educational, vocational and recreational opportunities in a least restrictive yet secure environment. A place like this may only be a dream for most communities, but in Virginia Beach, that dream is about to become a reality. It's called Vanguard Landing, where exceptional people will live extraordinary lives.
In Hampton Roads and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, we suffer a severe lack of adequate housing and employment opportunities for our largest segment of adults with special needs: those with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. In fact, this population represents the largest group of Virginia*s persons with disabilities--approximately 70 percent--yet they have the fewest safe and productive choices within their community for living and working. Too many of our family members and friends live in inappropriate settings such as nursing homes and institutions, or at home with aging parents, never achieving the quality of life they deserve. Furthermore, the families of people with intellectual disabilities must cope with the fear and uncertainty of who will care for their loved one after they are gone.
Virginia is currently ranked 47th out of 50 in the nation for funding for people with disabilities, and has been cited by the Federal Department of Justice for lack of adequate funding to serve our most vulnerable citizens. The recent agreement with the DOJ will be an important step forward in increased funding for Medicaid waivers over a 10-year period, but with new people coming of age each year, the waiver program will remain insufficient in meeting the needs of these citizens.
