12.455 Legislative findings.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
The General Assembly recognizes that many persons with disabilities and their
families receive some level of support and services that are funded or administered
by state agencies. The support and services are provided to persons with disabilities
or their families, if appropriate, either directly or through arrangements with local
community-based vendors, organizations, or agencies.
The General Assembly recognizes that persons with disabilities who receive the
services and support, directly or indirectly, are often not consulted for their
perspectives, nor are their viewpoints sought regarding the efficiency, strengths, or
weaknesses of the services and support.
Persons with disabilities and their families face obstacles in the court system
through lack of understanding and difficulty of access.
Various agencies in state government promulgate standards that govern the
administration or operation of the services and support. Seldom are persons with
disabilities or their families involved in the development of standards that directly
affect the quality of the services and support that they receive. In addition, there are
legislative commissions that serve in an advisory capacity concerning the services
provided to persons with disabilities and their families, whose membership does not
include persons with disabilities and their families.
It is the finding of the General Assembly that:
(a) Some forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities continue.
These persons are a discrete minority who have been faced with restrictions
and limitations, subjected to a history of purposeful unequal treatment, and
relegated to a position of political powerlessness in our society;
(b) Persons with disabilities and their families have a significant contribution to
make in the decision-making processes that shape the support and services
they receive through state government;
(c) Persons with disabilities and their families should be provided with
meaningful opportunities to contribute their perspectives through their
experiences concerning issues relating to services, support, and standards that
ultimately affect them;
(d) Services and support should be responsive and sensitive to the cultural, racial,
age, language, and gender characteristics of persons with disabilities and their
families; and
(e) Meaningful opportunities to contribute their perspectives will help provide
adequate information in a manner that facilitates and allows for participation
by persons with disabilities and their families.
Effective: July 15, 1996
History: Created 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 336, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1996.
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