Wyoming is looking to expand its Home and Community Based Waiver Program, a program that helps the disabled. With over 450 people in the state waiting for adult, child or brain-injury waivers, the funding is sorely needed.

The waivers were originally established to help people with developmental disabilities to remain in their communities, rather than be institutionalized. Beginning in the 1990s, the state now provides services to more than 2,000 people. The acquired brain injury program began in 2001, and serves another 170 adults.

Half of the projected $214 million Wyoming expects to spend on the waivers over the next two fiscal years will be covered by the federal government. Unfortunately, the funding is not enough to meet all the need.

The end of November found 184 disabled adults, 199 disabled children and 72 people with acquired brain injuries were on waiting lists. The wait times are long, with disabled adults spending an average of more than two years on the list. Children and people with brain injuries tend to wait more than a year.

A proposed bill would provide the funding needed to cut the wait times significantly: six months for adults and children and one month for people with brain injuries.

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