If you’ve been feeling a low hum of anxiety every time you see the word “Medicaid” in a headline lately, you’re not imagining things. Something big is happening. And for families who depend on home and community-based services in Virginia – families like the ones we serve every day at Community Direct Services – the […]

Close your eyes for a moment and think about your child. Not the diagnosis. Not the IEP goals. Not the meltdown at the grocery store last Tuesday. Think about the way they light up when their favorite song comes on. The way they organize their toys with a precision that would make an engineer jealous. […]

Let’s start with the good news. Because honestly, families in our world don’t hear it often enough. On February 3, 2026, a government spending package was signed that included something a lot of families have been quietly worrying about. The Lifespan Respite Care Program got renewed for another five years. Funding went up, too – […]

If you’re a family caregiver in Virginia – especially if your loved one receives services through Medicaid… There’s a conversation happening in Washington right now that will affect your life directly. And not in some vague, far-off-in-the-future way. Changes are starting this year. Last summer, Congress passed what’s known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill […]

Every March, something important happens. Not a holiday, exactly. Not a celebration in the traditional sense. But something that matters deeply to families like yours. March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month – a time set aside since 1987 to shine a light on the lives, contributions, and potential of people living with developmental disabilities. […]

Let’s talk about something that’s probably kept you up at night. You’ve found a caregiver for your loved one. They seem capable. They show up on time. At first. Your family starts to breathe again. Then, a few weeks or months later, they’re gone. No real explanation, no smooth transition. Just gone. And you’re back […]

Your MHSS/IIH Services Aren’t Ending – They’re Evolving (Here’s Your Checklist) If your child receives Mental Health Skill Building (MHSS) or Intensive In-Home (IIH) services in Virginia… You’ve probably heard whispers about “June 30, 2026” at your last CSB meeting. Maybe your case manager mentioned it in passing. Maybe another parent texted you a screenshot […]

The Call You’ve Waited a Decade For Is Finally Coming. Your DD Waiver Slot Is Coming? – Here’s Your 150-Day Action Plan. Because between now and December 2026, Virginia is releasing 3,440 Priority 1 DD waiver slots statewide, with Hampton Roads families expected to receive approximately 18% based on regional waitlist data. If you’re reading […]

The January Transition Challenge School resumes January 6, 2026. By then, your loved one will have been out of their regular routine for 17 days – long enough for sleep schedules to shift 2+ hours, sensory systems to recalibrate to home environments, and nervous system regulation to adapt to lower demands. Then comes the expectation […]

Winter break 2025–2026 runs December 20th through January 5th. 16 days without the school structure that supports daily regulation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The challenge isn’t the break itself. It’s the sudden removal of environmental cues, predictable routines, and professional supports that help your loved one navigate each day. When those disappear […]