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INTRODUCTION BY GREG WALTERS

This week week we are turning our page over to Jessica Haynes. Jessica is an advocate of the Missouri Self-Directed Supports (SDS) Program. This State of Missouri funded program assists families with "special needs" support from the state, in raising their children. I had a lengthy talk with Ms. Haynes and was impressed with her understanding of the program and the work she has tasked herself. 

Why Self-Directed Support Matters
By Jessica Haynes     Email: jessicasgirls@gmail.com

Raytown is more than just a place on a map to my family; it is the community that holds us together.

Today, I am writing to you not just as a constituent, but as a mother who watches her son, AJ, thrive every day because he is exactly where he belongs: home.

AJ is a young man living with Autism Level 2 (among other developmental disabilities).

Like any other Raytown resident, he has his favorite spots in town, neighbors he recognizes, and a life filled with dignity.

This is possible because of the Missouri Self-Directed Supports (SDS) program. It is a program that allows families like mine to be the architects of our loved ones' lives, ensuring they aren't tucked away in institutions, but are instead active, visible, and loved members of our community.

We recently saw a glimmer of hope when the Missouri House restored pay for the dedicated Personal Assistants who help individuals like our son AJ navigate his world. However, as the budget (HB 10) moves into the Missouri Senate, we are facing a "transition cliff." Vital funding for Community Specialists and the goods and services that make independent living possible for someone with AJ's support needs is still at risk.

When we talk about these cuts, we often talk about "Social Math." And while the numbers are staggering,

I want you to see the soul behind them:

● The Cost of a Life at Home: It costs the state approximately $50,000 per year to provide the support AJ needs to live safely and independently in our home.

● The Cost of a Life Interrupted: Without these home-based supports, the only alternative is institutionalization—a move that costs the state over $600,000 per year.

That is a $550,000 difference for a single person, every single year. But more importantly, it is the difference between a young man waking up in his own bed in Raytown or being moved to a facility far from the people who know his name and his story.

We aren't asking the City of Raytown for a donation or a miracle. We are simply asking our Mayor and Board of Aldermen to stand with us. By issuing a Resolution of Support, Raytown can lead Western

Missouri in telling our State Senators that we value our citizens with disabilities and the common-sense fiscal responsibility that keeps them home.

Supporting the SDS program isn't just a budget decision; it’s a decision about what kind of community we want to be. Let’s keep Raytown a place where everyone—regardless of ability—has a seat at the table and a place to call home.

How You Can Help

● Educate Yourself: Visit MOSDS.org to see the data and the statewide movement to protect our families.

● Join the Local Advocacy: Follow our journey and get updates on local meetings through our

Facebook groups:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2314853719027810 (This is our home group)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/306298879720557

https://www.facebook.com/mosdsfamilygroup

● Contact Our State Senator: Reach out to the Missouri Senate and urge them to restore the full SDS funding (including Community Specialists and IDGS) in the HB 10 budget. Let them know that Community Specialists and IDGS are not "extras"—they are the bridge to independence.

● Support a Local Resolution: Reach out to your local elected officials. Let them know you support a zero-cost Resolution of Support that honors the dignity of our neighbors with disabilities.

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