San Francisco's community for the aging and disabled has been closely following the updates from the Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD) and Disability Services Division (DSD). This week, integral announcements were shared that impact both workers and beneficiaries of these services. A significant note is that the Minnesota Age & Disabilities Odyssey will not continue beyond 2025—a resource that has served the community through connection, learning, and transformation. As reported by the weekly digest, this decision marks the end of an era for the Minnesota Age & Disabilities Odyssey and propels us into a future of uncertainty for similar initiatives.
In the meantime, operational improvements remain a priority, with the Department of Human Services (DHS) initiating an upgrade of the Waiver Management System (WMS). The reliability of the WMS has wavered during maintenance periods over the last few months, prompting the need for this technological enhancement. This upgrade is critical as it underpins the vital services and support provided to the community’s most vulnerable members.
For those interacting with the WMS—such as lead agencies and stakeholders—a more stable performance can be anticipated following this upgrade. The details of both the cessation of the Odyssey and the WMS upgrades were wrapped up in the most recent weekly announcement from the AASD and DSD. Disseminated every Tuesday, these bulletins are an essential conduit of information for those working alongside and within the sphere of disability and elder services.
While the Minnesota Age & Disabilities Odyssey will be dearly missed, the community's resilience has always thrived on adaptation and reinvention. As the final 2025 Odyssey webinar series concluded, it was acknowledged that the relationships and knowledge fostered over the years will outlast the initiative itself.
