Edwin’s Team

Edwin was recently in the hospital and fighting for his life.  At his side were his regularly paid attendants, who usually are paid through a Medicaid waiver.  However, anytime a Medicaid Waiver Recipient is hospitalized, the attendant care is cut off until the recipient is discharged.  He has needed attendant care most of his adult life, and Edwin trains each of them to manage his complex needs, including his ventilator, which he uses 24/7.  The hospital is unfamiliar with his care, ventilator settings, or inability to understand Edwin due to his difficulty talking.   (Edwin always says it is a permanent Donald Duck impression).  

Several years ago, Edwin established a Georgia Stable savings account that helps pay for his disability accommodations.  Last year, Edwin was hospitalized, and he used the funds to pay for his attendants to be there while the hospital was serving him.  The service the attendants provided was invaluable, if not even life-saving.  The account funds were drained, and with this recent two-week hospital admission, his funds were emptied, and he could not pay his attendants for their assistance.  

We are also requesting additional funds to boost his savings stable account to be able to support him in future situations and to be able to help with other needs related to his disability.  You probably didn't know, but Edwin renovated his pontoon boat and rigged it so he could drive his boat's trolling motor while fishing.  He modified his fishing rod to reel in his catches with a switch by his head. 

Edwin did many of these things for himself and did an incredible job maintaining his independence.  His independence and knowledge are shared!  Edwin works at Disability Connections and assists people with disabilities with similar modifications and a wide range of assistive technology, and invaluable peer support for other individuals with disabilities.

Please consider a generous donation to Disability Connections.  Every cent you donate will go directly into his Stable Savings Account.  

Here are the allowable expenses that the Stable Account can cover:

"The money from your account can be used for everyday needs or unexpected events. The qualified expenses are geared toward improving health, independence, and quality of life and include:

·       Living expenses

·       Education

·       Housing

·       Transportation

·       Employment, training, and support

·       Assistive technology

·       Personal support services

·       Health, prevention, and wellness

·       Financial management

·       Administrative services

·       Legal fees

·       Oversight and monitoring

[source:  https://georgiastable.com/qualified-expenses ]