Congressional Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus Co-Chairs Fitzpatrick and Dingell Speak at ANCOR Briefing

ANCOR joined with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and the Congressional Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus last week to host a congressional briefing on the Case for Inclusion 2023 report. The briefing was attended by various members of Congress who are passionate about supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

The event kicked off with remarks from caucus co-chairs Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who emphasized the importance of supporting people with I/DD and commended ANCOR for its outstanding work in this area. Rep. Fitzpatrick shared his personal experience as a caretaker to his brother, who has a disability, while Rep. Dingell spoke about her late husband, who was a driving force behind her passion for this cause. She also highlighted her recent introduction of the Better Care Better Jobs Act and HCBS Access Act.

The remainder of the briefing was led by Armando Contreras, President & CEO of UCP, along with two UCP members, Greta Robinson and Elitze Duarte, and ANCOR member Darlene Scott of Phoenix Residences, Inc. They shared their experience of service provision amidst the ongoing workforce crisis, which were reflected in many of the findings in the Case for Inclusion 2023 report.

The report highlights the importance of home and community-based services (HCBS) and the need for increased funding to support these critical services. The speakers emphasized the need for legislative action to improve access to HCBS for people with I/DD, which would enable them to live more independently and fully participate in their communities.

A recording of the briefing is now available to view.