Community Choice principles
ADAPT believes the following principles should be incorporated as minimum standards in any national attendant services program passed by Congress and attendant programs run by the states:
1. Maximum control of the consumer to select, manage and control their attendant services.
2. Attendant services must be community-based, in other words non-institutional.
3. Eligibility based on functional need not medical diagnosis, disability and/or age.
4. Services must be available in-home and other locations.
5. Attendant services must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
6. Back up and emergency attendant services must be available.
7. Program must allow for co-pay\cost sharing for people with higher incomes.
8. Delivery of service must include vouchers, direct cash payment, individual provider model, as well as consumer directed agency model.
9. Health related tasks can be delegated to or done by unlicensed personal attendants.
10. Voluntary training should be available for consumers.
11. Attendants should receive a livable wage and benefits.
12. Attendant services should be based on an agreed upon individual service plan.