Governor Reduces FY 09 Disability Funding!

Governor Blagojevich imposed a 3% reduction in funding for disability services for fiscal 2009.  This amounts to a real reduction of $21.2 million from FY 08 and $44.3 million in cost-of-living and needed program increases.

When you consider that the Illinois developmental disability system has been under-funded for much of the past 20 years, these new reductions will continue to jeopardize the health, welfare and safety of individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.

From 1990 to 2007, the state has under-funded community organizations by over 30% when compared to the cost of living.  The state's own data shows over 10,000 individuals in need of residential, day and employment support services.  The current reductions will drastically increase the wait time for all services, placing additional pressure on aging caregivers who are becoming increasingly unable to provide adequate, appropriate support. 

Additionally, no improved wages for direct care and clinical staff supporting persons with disabilities was considered.  According to a report from the University of Illinois, community direct support workers remain 28 to 64% behind their colleagues working in the state institutional system. 

Community providers, mostly non-profit charitable organizations, are becoming increasingly unable to support the over 45,000 individuals who depend upon them each day for needed services.  These cuts will accelerate Illinois' decline to the bottom of the states in per capita funding of community developmental disability programs. 

Advocates for persons with disabilities and the community-at-large need to contact the Governor, Legislative Leadership and their local Senators and Representatives to protest these cuts and to express our concern over the long term viability of Illinois developmental disability system.  Restoration of all reductions, the adoption of annual indexed increases and direct support worker parity with state institutional programs are mandatory first steps.  Contact them today to prevent a crisis in care from taking hold.   

Contact the Governor and Legislature today!