As you may have seen in the news, there have been some ugly statements made at the Idaho Legislature about people with disabilities and the need for institutions. On top of that, home and community-based services have been presented to the Idaho Legislature by the governor as one of several Medicaid services that could be eliminated as a solution to Idaho’s budget shortfall this year. Several years ago, when facing Medicaid cuts, DRI and the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities developed a film titled Blessings of Liberty to explain the importance of home and community-based services and to demonstrate the abuses that have occurred in Idaho facilities. Please find the link to this film below. Please be aware there are testimonials in this movie of bad things that happened at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC), formerly known as the Idaho State School and Hospital (ISSH). There are also powerful stories and statements about successes due to the receipt of home and community-based services.
