LITTLE ROCK — Families caring for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are pressing Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to call a special legislative session to tackle the state’s prolonged wait times for Community and Employment Support (CES) Waiver services. A press conference organized by Arkansas CES Waiver Families United is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, at 4 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Room at the Arkansas State Capitol.
The CES Waiver program provides critical home- and community-based services that allow individuals with disabilities to live safely in their homes and remain active in their communities, potentially avoiding institutional care. However, many families report waiting as long as a decade to access these services, leaving caregivers overwhelmed and loved ones' needs unmet as their conditions worsen.
Advocates say the delays have left parents, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities in dire straits. Many caregivers are aging, struggling to maintain employment, depleting savings, and fearing for the future when they can no longer provide full-time support. "A waiting list is not a plan, and silence is not leadership," the family-led advocacy group stated in a press release.
Wednesday’s press conference aims to highlight these challenges and demand immediate legislative action. The group is urging state leaders to:
- Call a special legislative session focused solely on addressing the CES Waiver program. - Develop and fund a plan to reduce and eliminate the existing waiting list. - Provide public transparency on waitlist numbers, funding, service availability, and timelines. - Involve families, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities in every policy decision affecting their care. - Invest in the infrastructure and workforce needed to expand waiver services.
Arkansas CES Waiver Families United argues that the state has acted quickly on other priorities, and now it must do the same to address the crisis affecting some of its most vulnerable residents.
“These are not just names on a list,” the organization shared, emphasizing the human toll of the delays. “They are Arkansans who need assistance with basic daily activities like bathing, eating, and working. Their safety, dignity, and futures are at stake.”
The public is encouraged to attend the event and follow updates through the organization’s Facebook page.
The CES Waiver program is a critical safety net for Arkansans with disabilities, but advocates believe substantial and immediate action is needed to fulfill its promise. The group hopes their efforts will underscore the urgency of this issue and prompt a swift response from state officials.