Bethesda Voices Advocacy

Bethesda Voices is an online community seeking to improve public policy affecting persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its purpose is to educate and engage, to mobilize support for system reforms and improvements, and to seek improved and sustainable funding for services and supports. Bethesda Voices is open to anyone with an interest in disabilities advocacy, and is free. Members include self-advocates; parents, family, friends and supporters of persons with disabilities; professional staff; and others with an interest in improving public policy in this area. The Bethesda Voices community is engaged in policy issues at the both the federal and state levels.

Bethesda Voices is a program of Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Inc., a Lutheran charity that is a leader in the field of services and supports for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Sarah Meek

New Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for LSA-Disability Network Announced

Bethesda is pleased to welcome Sarah Meek as the new Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for LSA-Disability Network. 
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Award

Bethesda Award Recipients

Each year Bethesda honors leaders in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities with four awards. Award recipients are honored at Bethesda Annual Banquet in November. 
Meet this year's recipients!
A Prayer for National Healing

A Prayer for National Healing

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." I've been thinking of this quote by President Abraham Lincoln often this past year. We are one week removed from our of our nation's most acrimonious and divisive elections. Pundits and "experts" are taking credit, assigning blame, and assessing what went wrong or what went right - dependent, of course, on one's political leanings.
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Vote on November 6th

Vote on November 6

"Vote as if you life depends on it, because it does." These words by Justin Dart, well-known activist and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, have never been more important or relevant for people with disabilities.

With issues such as Medicaid reform, the Affordable Care Act, housing and transportation at the forefront of national and state policy debates, the stakes for people with disabilities couldn't be higher.
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Mentor Advocacy Program

Advocacy Mentor Initiative

Bethesda Institute hired six individuals supported by Bethesda Lutheran Communities in each of their operational regions to the newly created position of advocacy mentor.

Learn more about the Advocacy Mentor Initiative
Facts

Stop Wisconsin Managed Care Cuts that Target People with Disabilities

Wisconsin managed care organizations (MCOs) that participate in Family Care have implemented rate cuts that are creating financial and operational challenges to intellectual and developmental disability (ID/DD) support providers. Bethesda Lutheran Communities is joining with other ID/DD service providers in requesting the Wisconsin Legislature take immediate action to require MCOs to provide reimbursement rates that are reasonable and sufficient to provide quality supports for people with ID/DD.
Learn How You Can Help!
Facts

Action Alert: Pass the ABLE Act of 2011

Email your members of Congress and ask them to pass important legislation to enhance the economic security of people with disabilities.

Learn How You Can Help!
Dr. John E. Bauer - Medicaid

Our Stance on Medicaid

Dr. John E. Bauer, Bethesda's President and CEO, shares his views on the current Medicaid situation.

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