June 26, 2026
Council Member Spotlight: Jennifer “Allie” Fredrich
Meet Jennifer “Allie” Friedrich, MODDC’s Chair-Elect and advocate. Allie was appointed in 2022. She graduated from Partners in Policy Making in 2021.
What is your why?
My mother was a fierce advocate for me. From a very young age, it was instilled in me that anything is possible and that advocacy is the only way to make it happen. She made sure I knew that she was fighting for me, but that one day it would be my turn to fight for myself and everyone like me. I took that responsibility seriously, and now I spend my time doing all of the things I have been told I’d never be able to do so that one day, we won’t have to fight for a spot at the “normal” table.
What is your call to action for others?
Do something. It is as simple as that. If you see something wrong, do something. If someone isn’t being treated correctly, do something. If you want something done, do something. If you aren’t being heard, do something. We all have to do our part. We can’t be silent anymore, but we all have to work together to make the changes we want to see. We can’t hope someone else will do it for us. We have to do something.
What is your favorite MODDC project or initiative? I am looking forward to our upcoming Menopause project. I hope that it will help with the lack of understanding between medical professionals and women with disabilities to make this season of life better.
Grant Spotlight: Improving Access to Dental Care
MODDC invested $322,000 over four years with the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health (MCOH) to improve access to dental care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Data related to adults with I/DD shows:
- An estimated less than 20% of adults with I/DD in Missouri receive dental services each year.
- Adults with I/DD are restricted to a limited adult dental Medicaid coverage plan, which does not cover preventive care.
Teledentistry allows dental hygienists to go into the community to provide dental education, dental cleaning, and to take x-rays and mouth pictures. The dental hygienists provide these services at school, residential facilities, and other community settings, or in the person’s home. Later, the dentist reviews the x-rays, pictures, and the dental hygienist’s report to determine if dental treatment is needed.
MCOH partnered with Enable Dental to develop a pilot teledentistry program in several counties across Missouri to increase access to dental care for people with I/DD. Enable Dental provides mobile services (dental van) and teledentistry for people with I/DD. Together, they developed trainings and webinars in Missouri about the use of teledentistry for individuals with I/DD. This work included community engagement and education to bring dental care services to individuals with I/DD to improve their oral health.
A total of 1,165 people with I/DD received dental care through this project. Dental services were provided to people with I/DD in 18 counties.
Dental patients and family members or caregivers completed a survey after receiving dental services. Here are some of their responses:
- “We were able to get needs met that we have not been able to get done in a long time – thank you!”
- “They were amazing and very patient with our clients.”
- “Very friendly and explained steps for people to understand.”
- “We are so thankful for this service and are glad that our son now has access to comfortable dental care.”
- “I feel very valued as a patient, and they went out of their way to accommodate my needs.”
- “We were so happy to have them come to our home and provide excellent dental care for our son.”
- “Thank you for the dental care. It was greatly needed and appreciated!”
- “Great opportunity for dental care for people who have not had it.”
The main takeaways are:
- Teledentistry is accepted and appreciated by individuals with I/DD.
- Teledentistry and mobile dentistry (dental van) make it easier for people to get dental care in a familiar setting.
- Dental care tended to be a low priority due to the limited ability to find routine dental care in the past.
- It is common to wait for a serious dental problem to develop before seeking care.
- With continued outreach and increasing awareness, more people with I/DD will be able to get dental care before a serious problem develops.
- Dental care needs to be a priority and MUST be considered a key part of overall health.
MCOH can connect you with providers to help access dental services. Send requests to info@oralhealthmissouri.org.
Policy Issues You Need to Know About
Texas v. Kennedy Update
Missouri is one of six states included in a lawsuit, specifically an amended petition titled Texas v. Kennedy. The amended petition challenges the 2024 rule under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It states that the integration mandate included in the rule is unlawful and unconstitutional. The integration mandate allows people with disabilities to receive services in the community rather than in institutions. As states learn the potential impact of this lawsuit, they continue to withdraw from the lawsuit.
MODDC continues to work with the Attorney General’s and the Governor’s office on this issue. You can learn more about the lawsuit and complete an action alert. The action alert provides a way for you to send your own message to Governor Kehoe and Attorney General Hannaway.
Family as Paid Caregivers
There is a lot of attention on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and paid family caregivers. Payments for family caregivers are most common under Medicaid waivers for individuals with I/DD (Source: Medicaid’s Home Care Support for Family Caregivers in 2025 – KFF). Some states, like Ohio, tried to prohibit paid family caregivers through state legislation, House Bill 795 (an anti-fraud bill). Many individuals and advocates provided testimony against the bill’s provision ending payments to family caregivers. This resulted in the provision being removed from the bill. Read more here: Provision banning Ohio Medicaid payments to family caregivers stripped from anti-fraud bill
Here are some advocacy tips for paid family caregivers.
- Be clear about the positive impact of paid family caregivers.
- Be clear about the potential negative impact if paid family caregivers are no longer an option.
- Explain why paid family caregiving is the best option for you.
- Share information about Acumen and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).
Use the Missouri Senate Legislator Lookup to find your state legislators.
If you want to share the impact of Medicaid and paid family caregivers with MODDC, please fill out our Medicaid Impact Survey.
Partners in Policymaking Graduate Helps Build Inclusive Community
Jordan’s Place, located in Marshfield, Missouri, is an inclusive housing community for people with disabilities. It features 40 accessible homes arranged around a community center, fostering an environment where individuals with and without disabilities live together.
The community is named in memory of Jordan Fenner, who experienced a disability as a young adult and passed away by suicide due to a lack of accessible, independent housing. His mother, Joyce Fenner, led the effort to create this inclusive community. She was able to secure $9.7 million in funding from the Missouri Housing Development Commission to make her vision a reality.
Watch a video to learn more about Jordan’s Place and to meet Joyce, narrated by Katheryne Staeger-Wilson from MODDC. This video was created and funded by Missouri Inclusive Housing (Missouri Inclusive Housing Development Corporation.
Inclusive Housing and Olmstead
Inclusive housing, like Jordan’s Place, brings the Olmstead decision to life in Missouri. Olmstead supports the right of people with disabilities to have the same opportunities to live in the community just like everyone else. It makes a positive difference in people’s lives.
The integration mandate, supported by the Olmstead decision and disability laws like the Rehabilitation Act Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), makes it clear that people with disabilities have the right to live and receive services in their community. The integration mandate requires systems that support community living and home-and community-based services. MODDC supports the integration mandate as a critical requirement necessary to maintain disability rights.
For more information on the Olmstead decision, read MODDC’s Olmstead White Paper. Information about inclusive living and affordable housing can be found on page 36.
About Partners in Policymaking
Joyce Fenner is a graduate of Missouri’s Partners in Policymaking, a program that develops strong disability advocates and leaders across the state. She is a great example of how the program empowers advocates to make a difference for Missouri’s developmental disabilities community. MODDC supports Partners in Policymaking by providing funding for the program.
Learn more about the program here: Partners in Policymaking. Applications for the 2027 Partners in Policymaking class are now open. For more information, go to 2027 Partners in Policymaking Application. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance in November 2026.
