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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 in RaytownINTRODUCTION BY GREG WALTERS
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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Comments
As a mother advocating for my son, AJ, and the hundreds of other Missourians who rely on Self-Directed Supports (SDS), I am deeply grateful for the platform the Raytown Report provides. Our mission is about more than just a budget line; it is about ensuring that independence and dignity remain a permanent right for our neighbors with disabilities.
By keeping families together, we aren't just doing the right thing; we are saving the state significant resources ($48k for home-based care vs. $600k for institutional care). We are looking forward to the Board of Aldermen meeting on April 14th and want to thank the Mayor and the entire Board for their leadership in recognizing this vital cause.
See you at City Hall!
Our country needs more great leaders like our President. We are so blessed to have Trump and McDonough. We must pray for their hard work and love for this country. God bless them both.
This brings the age old question about where are the police. If they actually patrolled the streets they would have reported it to codes. Maybe I am expecting to much from the police I mean it is not like our Mayor is a police officer. Wait he is a former one likes to even brag about it. However, safety is not top of the list.
I would say the runner up is the property on the East side of Blue Ridge Blvd between 56th Street and Woodson. The house is a nice looking two story home with a great big yard. The problem is since late last year there is a truck on jacks.
Are these the things we want travelers world wide to remember about Raytown?
Yes, Raytown is the "arm pit" of a small city. There is Nothing Raytown has to offer to the visitors to the world cup, just trash and blight.