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O’Malley’s unkindest cut: slashing Maryland disabilities services

September 3, 2009 at 7:24 pm 5

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by JENNIFER BISHOP

On August 26, the Maryland Board of Public Works voted to approve a 24 million dollar budget cut for services for people with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Yet, the zoo was spared.

Here’s a list of all the recent cuts.

Yes, we should all share the pain of budget cuts– all of us who are able bodied and share some of the same basic human options for adaptation, that is. But when already-underfunded community services for the severely disabled are cut, the need for basic care is shifted to state institutions, hospitals, and Medicaid.

In the long run, this will cost the state more than they saved up front, while diminishing quality of life for our most vulnerable citizens. It’s a lose/lose situation.

If you object to this, like I do, call the Governor’s office at 410-974-3901 and tell him so. He needs to hear from us.

You can also get more information, read how this might impact just one agency, and learn who else to call or write, here.

Maryland is one of the very worst states– 43rd out of 50– in prioritizing spending on services for people with disabilities– a long-term problem of insufficient funding for years which puts our citizens with disabilities in a particularly vulnerable position. Add the perspective that every state is struggling with too-long waiting lists and you realize how far we must come to meet the needs of this population.

There is a national strategy afoot to add services for the developmentally disabled to the proposed national health plan, which, if approved, could alleviate the need for waiting lists by making basic care for those with developmental disabilities an entitlement. You can sign a petition for this solution here.

  • Anonymous

    Thank-you Jennifer for sharing this important news. The reality for thousands of Maryland’s families with young sons and daughters with disabilities is that their primary source of state agency support does not come from DDA. Rather, the often sole source of support for school aged children with disabilities comes from the Maryland State Department of Education.The latter (by way of Individualized Education Plans)serves our children with disabilities as an entitlement, the former does not.
    Partnering with health care reform efforts to make basic care for people with disabilities an entitlement is something that I hope will come to be realized. And families partnering with the state’s leadership to accomplish this will surely help in this effort.

  • Diane Stoler

    Why is it the people that need the most are the ones that have to fight for everything they have or fight for things not to be taken away? I appreciate all the information being forwarded so we can remain in fighting mode. If we don’t fight for our special needs adults/ children then who will? It is just ashame we always have to fight. Life is hard enough as it is.

  • http://www.online-guitar-tuition.com/ Guitar Tuition Reviews

    Maryland has been cutting education severely. Nobody is going to like it when their stuff gets the axe.

    The zoo is already losing a lot of revenue btw. A big funding cut would probably kill it.

  • MERIAN HARMON

    I am a parent of an adult child with cerebral palsy as well as his care giver and I am amazed at how insignificant individuals with disabilities are to the government. Any one of us could end up in the same shoes as my son.

    My heart goes out to all the families and care givers waiting in fear to know what the future holds for their loved ones and clients. If we really want change and protection not only is petitioning the government important and neccessary, but also praying that God will give those in position insight into how to best adjust the budget in economic times such as these.

  • Daniel

    My son has a rare disability he has 10hrs x 5 days a week and the state is cuting him down to 4hrs x5 me and my wife are just getting by with working 40hrs each a week. what do they want us to do give up on his health to worry about making our payments, let’s just forget about paying our bills and live fully off the govt. sounds good to me…

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