Together for Choice:  Advocating for the Rights of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

by Barb Quaintance

Under the leadership of Sister Rosemary Connelly, Scott Mendel and Geana Connelly, Misericordia is a founding member of Together for Choice (TFC), a coalition whose mission is to protect and advance the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live, work and thrive in a community setting of their choice.

Founded in 2018, TFC’s position is that individuals and their families know best what type of residential and vocational programs and opportunities best meet their needs and preferences. The role of government, state and federal, should be to support all quality residential and vocational options. By doing so, the government treats individuals with disabilities the same as those who do not have disabilities.

Did you know that:

• It is estimated that there are 8.38 million people with I/DD in the United States.
• Nearly 1.3 million adults do not get services through state agencies.
• Among people with I/DD who get long-term supports and services, 61% lived with family members.

Together for Choice is a robust coalition with members (organizations and individuals) in all 50 states. Collectively, TFC organizations serve over 25,800 individuals with I/DD. Misericordia is one of the largest organizations in the coalition.

Misericordia recently hosted the Together for Choice conference, June 18-20, on the Mis campus. Over 200 participants from across the country—as well as Argentina and Uganda—gathered to share ideas and best practices for the I/DD community. Topics on the agenda included:

• Supporting individuals with complex needs
• Day and employment services
• Housing and residential services
• Policy updates

Participants also heard from a representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Geana Connelly said that while the learning sessions were very well-received, participants said that the ability to network, collaborate, and share with their peers was the highlight of the conference. 

Thanks to Geana, Scott Mendel, and other Misericordia staff for their leadership on behalf of the I/DD community across the country.

Click here to watch the video recording of the Together for Choice Conference.