Oklahoma eliminating the wait list for those with developmental disabilities

by Chris Kidd

As a dad, I know what it is like to want to do the very best you can to make sure your child is cared for, loved and nurtured in every way possible. You want to make sure your child receives what they need to achieve their greatest potential and live their best life possible.

Oklahomans caring for family members with developmental disabilities want the same thing for their loved ones, but we’re among some 40 states with waiting lists for the home and community-based services those individuals desperately need. According to the Department of Human Services, there are nearly 6,000 Oklahomans on the waiting list. Unchanged, it would take 13 years for the Developmental Disabilities Service Division (DDS) to serve everyone on the current list.  

But I have good news—this month, a bold initiative was launched that ultimately will help us completely eliminate that waiting list.  For the first time ever, the state is doing a complete assessment of every single person on that list to determine their unique needs and help determine the cost of eliminating the wait list.

Liberty Healthcare of Oklahoma is now in the process of conducting those assessments and will also provide case management and navigation services to help those currently on the waiting list access services that may already be available and reduce the time waiting for additional services. If you are on the waiting list, please watch your email and mailbox for information about the assessment. When contacted, please respond right away, and thoroughly. This will help us as we work to get thousands of Oklahomans access to the services they have been waiting so long to receive.

A series of meetings began this past week at the Capitol held by the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding, the bipartisan, bicameral committee that will make recommendations to the governor on the use of nearly $1.9 billion in federal pandemic relief funds for the state. 

This is one-time funding, so the goal is to determine how best to use those resources in ways that will help us respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and puts our state in a better position to deal with future health emergencies. 

Work continues on the redrawing of the boundaries for Oklahoma’s five congressional districts.  The lines for legislative and congressional seats must be redrawn every 10 years to account for changes in populations throughout our state.  Last month the chairs of the Senate and House redistricting committees announced October 10 would be the deadline for public map submissions for congressional redistricting. 

If you would like to make your own submission, you can email your map to redistricting@oksenate.gov

Public map submissions are limited to one submission per person and must be from Oklahoma citizens.  Each map must include a statewide plan for all five congressional districts. 
joint Senate and House Press release from August 23 contains links for information on the requirements for submissions.  Just go to www.oksenate.gov, click on the header of “Media” then select “Press Releases.”

While you are on our website, you can also go under the topic of “Committees” to pull up agendas and other information about the many interim studies and the meetings of the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding that are also underway here at the Capitol. 

Streaming audio and video are also available of all meetings and are archived on our website along with other materials presented.

Thank you again for the privilege of serving our district and the State of Oklahoma in the Senate. If I can be of any assistance, you can reach me at (405) 521-5563 or Chris.Kidd@oksenate.gov.