Frustration, Long Waits Await Kansans in Need of Social Services (KS)

August 18, 2010

Ty Hayden has autism, cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and requires special education and constant care. But because of Kansas budget cuts, nine-year-old Hayden and his family are on a long waiting list for social services.

Hayden’s mother, Amy, says that even though her family qualifies for state aid, her son has been on a waiting list for special services since 2005.

"It’s very frustrating," said Amy Hayden. "He’s such an amazing little boy and needs everything in the world, and so far we’ve talked to lots of legislators and they’re not listening enough to go ahead and pass the bills to get through so we can get the funding now instead of 2012, if not later than that."

State budget cuts and reduced Medicaid reimbursements are creating longer waiting lists for social services in Kansas, with more than 2,400 Kansans with developmental disabilities like Hayden’s are waiting to receive home or community-based services. Officials with Johnson County Developmental Supports says that when those receiving servi ces who need additional help are included, the number is closer to 4,300.

In addition, officials say that nearly 2,300 people with physical disabilities also are waiting for state help.

"The annual cost to provide home and community services and keep someone in their home for a year is around $20,000 a year," said Lisa Churchill of the Coalition for Independence. "And the annual cost to keep someone in a nursing facility is $33,000 a year."

Amy Hayden says that she pays to get her son one hour of therapy a day. It’s not nearly enough, but she says it’s better than what the state provides right now, which is nothing at all.

Five years ago, Hayden was told she’d only have to wait two or three years for developmental services for her son. Now, she says she doesn’t expect to get to the top of the list until 2012 at the earliest.