JCDS has invited families with children on the developmental disability (DD) waiting list to speak about how their lives have been affected. Also included will be Direct Support Professionals who provide important services to people with developmental disabilities.

Lenexa, KS- Feb. 27: Johnson County Developmental Supports (JCDS) will be hosting a press conference to address the developmental disability (DD) waiting list, how it is affecting local families and impact of inadequate pay on the workers who provide essential direct supports to this population. The conference will be held at 10 a.m. on March 3, 2009 at JCDS, 10501 Lackman Road, Lenexa, KS.

Our executive director, Maury Thompson, will speak about House Bill 2094, a multi-year plan to eliminate the waiting list and increase reimbursement rates to providers.

The numbers are about the current waiting list are staggering. There are more than 640 individuals waiting for needed DD services in Johnson County. The number exceeds 3,800 statewide.

This may be news to many in our community, but it is not news to our policymakers. This year, the DD community does not want the waiting list for services and an increase of reimbursement rates for Direct Support Professionals to be ignored by legislators. To read more, please go to www.invisiblekansans.org.

We encourage members of the press to attend this important event!