1. 1 A Taxing View of Self-Direction Jim Hoegemeier The Arc-Wisconsin Disability Association

2. 2 Turbo Tax

3. 3 The Simple Life Didn’t make much money; Didn’t own a home; Wasn’t married; Didn’t have any deductions; Could file the IRS 1040 EZ Form

4. 4 The Complexities of Life Had a side-business; Bought a house; Got married; Had some other deductions; Hired an accounting firm to do our taxes; Cost a fair amount of money

5. 5 Looking For Middle Ground Felt we were paying a fair amount of money to have someone enter numbers into a computer program; Someone told me about their experience with Turbo Tax; Looked like a good option

6. 6 What Is Turbo Tax? Went online and learned about Turbo Tax; Need to have access to all of your information; Will guide you through the process; Offers different levels of support; Does much of what an accounting firm does; I had to do some work

7. 7 Three Ways to Crack an Egg I needed my tax forms completed. Could do it myself; Very inexpensive; Would I know all of the new tax changes? Would I make any mistakes in figures? Would I fill out the right forms? Would my wife scream at me if I screwed up?

8. 8 Three Ways to Crack an Egg I needed my tax forms completed. Could pay firm to do them – pretty expensive; Don’t have a connection between financial activities and tax consequences; If there is a mistake, it is somebody else’s mistake.

9. 9 Three Ways to Crack an Egg I needed by my tax forms completed. Found Turbo Tax – middle ground – fairly inexpensive; Led through process; Had to enter information myself; Could see impact of each entry on tax bottom line; Availability of support if desired and needed

10. 10 How Does Turbo Tax Relate to Service Programs? You need a level of support. You could do it all by yourself; Find resources to help get services and supports you need; You need to do virtually everything by yourself; You have entire responsibility; Like trying to do taxes on your own.

11. 11 How Does Turbo Tax Relate to Service Programs? You need a level of support. Have other people plan and arrange for your services; Costly to the system, but little for you to do; You will get what other people think you want and need; Very helpful in complex situations; Like paying the accounting firm to do your taxes

12. 12 How Does Turbo Tax Relate to Service Programs? You need a level of support. Can play a big role in developing and implementing your service plan; You have significant say and responsibility; Do have entities to support you in developing and implementing plan – when needed; Like using Turbo Tax to complete taxes

13. 13 The Pitfalls of Self-Direction It isn’t for everybody; There is increased level responsibility; The transition from a different level can take some effort; Need to know where and when to seek support

14. 14 The Benefits of Self-Direction While you will have increased responsibility, you will have increased influence; Once you make the transition, it usually goes smoother; You can clearly see how decisions you make regarding your plan will impact the types and levels of supports received;

15. 15 The Benefits of Self-Direction There is a lower cost to the “system” that allows more resources to serve you and others; It is the way most of us live our lives.

16. 16 The Current Environment for Self-Direction Current leadership of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services strongly supports concepts related to self-direction; Whether the support is based solely on principle, cost factors or a combination, legislators will likely share support

17. 17 What We Can Do If you have experience with self-direction, share it with others; If you do not have experience with self- direction, learn from others; Tap into the growing number of available resources; Be open to the ongoing possibility that self- direction may or may not be the best option for you

18. 18 Self-Direction Resources www.incontrolwisconsin.org www.wisconsin-iris.com www.wi- bpdd.org/projects/selfdetermination.cfm www.wi- bpdd.org/projects/selfdetermination.cfm www.centerforself-determination.com

19. 19 The Arc-Wisconsin Jim Hoegemeier, Executive Director The Arc-Wisconsin Disability Association 2800 Royal Ave., Suite 209 Madison, WI 53713 (877) 272-8400 arcwjim@att.net www.arc-wisconsin.org