OPC Vision & Principles Statement

I.  Vision Statement

The Minnesota Olmstead Plan (“Plan”) will empower and support people with disabilities of all ages and abilities to live with dignity and independence in the most integrated setting consistent with their own preferences and based upon their own choice. The intended outcome of the Plan is to expand, strengthen, and integrate high quality and effective systems of community-based services and supports that are person-centered, individually-directed, and adequately funded.

II. Principles governing the content of the Plan

The primary principles governing the substance of the Plan are as follows:

·  Disability is a natural part of human experience. Disability does not mean “inability”.

·  An individual with a disability is a human being equally as worthy of dignity and respect as all other human beings.

·  “[I]n enacting the ADA, Congress recognized that physical and mental disabilities in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society, but that people with physical or mental disabilities are frequently precluded from doing so because of prejudice, antiquated attitudes, or the failure to remove societal and institutional barriers.” 42 U.S.C. §12101(a)(2) Note.

·  The ADA and the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision requires state and local governments to administer services, programs, and activities in a manner that enables individuals with disabilities to interact with non-disabled persons to the fullest extent possible.

·  The State of Minnesota, like the Nation's “proper goals regarding individuals with disabilities are to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals.” 42 U.S.C. §12101(a)(7).

·  The State of Minnesota (“State”) is committed to enable individuals with disabilities to move from institutions to the most integrated setting appropriate, consistent with their desires. The State is equally committed to take steps necessary to avoid the risk of individuals with disabilities being unnecessarily institutionalized.

·  The guiding principle in state disability policy development and funding decisions will be to support individuals with disabilities to have access to community living opportunities including employment opportunities, accessible and affordable housing, public transportation, access to recovery and rehabilitation services, lifelong learning and educational opportunities, assistive technology, and health care, with access to the needed services and supports to make these opportunities a reality.

·  Each individual with a disability will be empowered to make an informed decision notwithstanding any myths, fears, or stereotypes that the individual may be experiencing regarding his or her capacity to live in the community with needed services and supports. The ability to make informed decisions will include the opportunity to speak with peers who are successfully living, learning, working and enjoying life in community-based integrated settings.

·  Family members and significant others, as appropriate may play an important role in supporting an individual with a disability to make informed choices.

·  In order to support self-direction and to maximize independence, individuals with disabilities will be empowered to make choices for themselves on matters in their lives, just as non-disabled individuals do, including on issues which involve risks. Quality of life is enhanced when individuals with disabilities gain more control in their lives including deciding whether to take a risk.

·  The goals when developing individual services and supports will include accessibility, quality, person-centered planning and wherever possible, individually-controlled decision-making. An accurate ongoing and comprehensive system of assessment of an individual’s abilities and functional limitations will be available to facilitate the individual in making choices about supports and services.

·  A full array of services and supports are needed to address the broad range of individuals with disabilities including persons with stable, degenerative chronic medical conditions or multiple disabilities.

·  Public and private mechanisms of financing programs and activities must be reexamined to enable federal, state, county, and individual funding to be used in the most creative, effective and efficient means available.

·  All programs and activities developed or maintained under this plan must be free of discrimination on all bases in accordance with applicable federal and state law and must address the diversity of individuals with disabilities in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, religion, language, ability to communicate, sexual orientation, geography, and ability to pay.

III. Principles for Developing, Implementing and Evaluating the Plan

The primary principles that inform the development and implementation of the Plan are the following:

·  Individuals with disabilities, their families, and advocates will play a significant role in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Plan. In addition, the State must engage other persons and entities who are or will be impacted by the Plan.

·  All State agencies, not just the Department of Human Services, must collaborate in and be responsible for developing and implementing the plan. This includes sharing costs and budget responsibilities as appropriate. Leadership at the gubernatorial level will ensure the most efficient and effective inter-agency coordination, planning, and implementation of the Plan.

·  The Plan will take into account past and current reform efforts.

·  The Plan will be developed and implemented with specific, measurable and achievable goals and timetables and in a manner that provides for transparency and accountability.

·  The Plan will include a commitment by the State to the long-term effort necessary for its effective and efficient implementation regardless of changes in leadership.

·  Best efforts will be made to reinvest any savings attributable to implementation of the Plan into expanding the availability of appropriate housing and services instead of using such funds for other purposes.

·  Ongoing community engagement and training will be critical to implementation, evaluation, and revision as the Plan evolves to meet changing needs and resources.

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