EMAIL SUBJECT LINE:
HELP ENSURE MINNESOTANS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED DAY SERVICES
Dear Rep. ___/ Sen. ___,
Thank you for all that you are doing to help steer our state forward through this current COVID-19 outbreak, we appreciate all of your efforts.
Today, I am asking you to support services to people with disabilities by pushing to pass a Disability Day and Employment Services Fixed Cost Relief legislative proposal as soon as possible. This will help ensure that Minnesotans with disabilities have access to needed day and employment services.
As you know, disability day and employment services are being hit hard by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Most services are temporarily suspended. Without emergency relief during the suspension, many providers have no revenue coming in and will find it difficult to reopen when it is safe to do so.
Emergency funding is urgently needed to help day and employment service providers to address fixed costs that continue during these closures. Limited reserves are quickly being depleted to cover rent, utilities, and essential expenses. Partial funding through emergency relief will cover these fixed costs and sustain the critical day and employment support services infrastructure so these critical services are available to Minnesotans with disabilities when it is safe to resume services.
With emergency funding, we can avoid coming back from this pandemic with a decimated infrastructure for these crucial disability community services. We can avoid a tomorrow where people with disabilities will not have access to innovative, individualized supports during the day. But action is needed now, acting when the pandemic passes will be too late.
I am asking you to please push to pass a Disability Day and Employment Services Fixed Cost Relief legislative proposal as soon as possible. For a copy of a current draft legislative proposal, please contact MOHR (the statewide association of disability day and employment service providers).
Thank you for your partnership on this critical issue.
Sincerely,