Broadly speaking, disabled people in the South have less access to care than the rest of the disabled community in the country.
Many people live in rural areas that are healthcare deserts. Due to a lack of fair pay for care workers and long waiting lists, many disabled people are also unable to access the home and community based services that they need to live in their own communities instead of being confined to institutions.
New Disabled South believes that lawmakers need to pass comprehensive policy for care worker wages, rural health care providers, and home and community based services so that disabled people have the care they need to not only survive, but also thrive.
New Disabled South also acknowledges that care exists beyond the formal healthcare system and its infrastructure.
New Disabled South believes in the importance of community care work. Community care saves lives when formal institutions fail to meet the care needs of disabled people.
By The Numbers
Adults in the United States live with a disability
People receive Medicaid home and community based services nationwide
People are on Medicaid waiver waitlists in some Southern states
Average wait time for certain Medicaid waiver services in parts of the South