Maine's governor is proposing a major overhaul of the state's system for caring for people with disabilities, one that she says will make it easier for them to get jobs and stay in their homes, the Portland Press Herald reports.
Gov.
Janet Mills' budget proposal for the next two years calls for the creation of a new "Lifespan" program that will focus on each person's specific needs and help them plan for the future.
"Lifespan will enroll individuals earlier (at age 14), enabling the development of a life plan, and making the transition to adulthood smoother," says a press release from the state's Office of Aging and Disability Services.
"If needs become abrupt, different services can be accessed without changing programs."
The budget proposal also calls for $54 million in cost-of-living adjustments over the next two years for the state's programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The new Lifespan program will enroll 540 people with disabilities over the next two years, and the state plans to use a national tool to assess each person's needs and come up with a service plan, the Press Herald reports.
"The budget promotes innovation with a new Lifespan program that simplifies and centers the program on the people it serves and their changing
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