Brookfield Woman Asks for Additional Funding for Long-Term Care, Transit

A Brookfield woman who has lived with multiple sclerosis for the past 35 years asked lawmakers for additional funding for long-term health care and public transportation.

Roxan Perez said that her condition has taken her from not walking at all to being institutionalized for periods of time, which is why budget cuts to long-term care and transit are a huge concern for her and her peers.

Perez spoke at the Joint Finance Committee hearing on the state budget held Thursday at Greendale High School. 

The hearing was the first of four being held around the state to give residents the chance to have their say on Gov. Scott Walker’s 2013-15 budget. After the hearings, the committee will vote on any changes before sending their version on to the Assembly and Senate.

Perez asked the committee to restore public transit to what it use to be and even increase funding for it, as well as to look into considering additional funding for long-term health care.

"They are taking money away from paratransit and that makes it impossible to live in the community so less people will be able to get out of institutions to live in the community," Perez said.

Perez also asked legislators to recognize that there is still more money being put into institutions like nursing homes than in long-term care.

Wisconsin adopted a program called IRIS in 2008 where participants have control over the type of services they receive in home and community settings.

However, Perez says that IRIS doesn't reach many counties in Wisconsin and asked lawmakers to consider passing the Community Choice Act. Similar to IRIS, this act also provides an alternative to nursing homes and institutions by receiving attendant care in their private homes or in community-assisted living.

The Community Choice Act has been passed by a number of states but not by Wisconsin, said Perez. 

Disability Scoop ranked Wisconsin 26th in a list that compares services and quality of life for people with disabilities. Arizona, Michigan and California came in the top of the list.