What are Microboards?

Dr. Martha Blue Banning¹

Individuals with disabilities have traditionally received services through agencies and have had little, if any, control over allocated resources. They have had to fit into existing services whether or not those services truly met their individual needs. Recently, at both the national and state levels, interest has been growing in transferring greater control of Medicaid and other funding sources from service providers to individuals with disabilities and their families/circles of support. This is evident in Medicaid waivers where the power of choice is being shifted closer to the consumer. This individual control of funding enables individuals to have greater control over their services and the allocated funds for those services.

The amount of control afforded individuals with disabilities varies significantly state by state. While some have statewide programs, other states make it available to a limited number of people or not at all. So, how do you access individual control of funding and services if you live in a state where it is not offered? Microboards are one promising answer. Microboards are an innovative mechanism for accessing individual control of services and funding resources. A microboard is a legally incorporated independent organization created by a small group of family and friends for one individual. It basically is a provider for one person, which can receive funds, control of hiring, paying, managing support staff, and identify and purchase needed goods and services.

Tips:

1. Determine if Individual Control of Funding is the best option for your son or daughter. It is one of multiple service options but is not the answer for everyone. Carefully reflect on the focus person's situation. If more choice, control, and flexibility over personal daily activities would improve his or her quality of life, Individual Control of Funding may be the best option.

2. Determine if Individual Control of Funding is available in your state. If it is the best option for your son or daughter, check with your state's Developmental Disability Council to find out if your state offers this option through a demonstration project, through the new Independence Plus Initiative or state policy.

3. Check on microboards in your state. If Individual Control of Funding is not available in your states, check with your stateís Council on Developmental Disability or your local Independent Living center to see if microboards have been established in your state. A number of states have successfully established microboards, including Maryland, Colorado, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Utah, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

4. Learn about microboards. Find out more about all components of microboards. Accurate and helpful information about microboards is readily available on the internet. Visit the following websites to learn more: www.microboard.org; www.tnmicroboards.org.

5. Keep initial microboards simple. Bringing about systems change at the state level is difficult and complex. Instead of trying to change legislation in your state, establish initial microboards within current state regulations.

1 Dr. Martha Blue-Banning has worked in the field of Special Education for almost thirty years as a teacher, administrator and researcher. She has taught special education classes at the early childhood and junior high level. Her primary research focus is Individual/Family Control Funding (IFCF) qualitative studies. Her young adult son, who has Down syndrome, participates in IFCF and currently lives in his own home and operates his own vending machine business. This provides Martha with unique insights and interest in how individual control of funding can improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities