For Immediate Release                                         

September 1, 2009                                                                                                                                  

(Park Ridge, Illinois)-For the 240 men and women with autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome and other intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities at Avenues to Independence (www.avenuestoindependence.org), the 2009 summer will not be one to remember.    

State funding reductions announced in July have been placed on hold with hopes that they will be restored in January, 2010.  However, says Robert Okazaki, CEO of Avenues; “while the 100% cuts were reduced to 12%, agencies could see the 100% cuts again if we are not successful in obtaining federal match for these programs and individuals."

Says Okazaki, "any level of budget cut negatively impacts every individual in all the programs operated by Avenues.  Through their inability to come up with a more permanent, long-term solution, the Governor and Legislative leadership are jeopardizing the health, welfare and safety of individuals with disabilities.  The proposed cuts will leave us with no choice but to reduce the number of individuals enrolled to a level that enables us to still provide a quality service with any remaining funds.” 

Much of the current crisis stems from state’s disability underfunding that goes back to the 1990’s.  Each year, the Governor and Legislative leadership have refused to fix our state’s structural budget deficit.  As a result, Illinois disability funding covers less and less.  Today, community program reimbursements are 50% under what the state pays itself in their outdated institutional settings.   

Additionally, Illinois’ payment delays routinely exceed 120 days.   As a result, charitable organizations such as Avenues are forced to use precious resources to prop up Illinois’ broken financial system.  “If Illinois’ funding had kept pace, we would have been better able to withstand the current economic downturn”, says Okazaki.  “Adding a 50% cut on top of 20 years of inadequate funding is like adding an elephant to the straw that breaks the camel’s back”. 

To make matters worse, individuals with disabilities whose service needs are not covered within the federal Medicaid program could see a 100% reduction in their state funded services.  Without their Supported Living Arrangements, many will lose important skills and in the future, require significantly more intensive support, at an even greater cost to taxpayers. 

Throughout Illinois, over 50,000 individuals with disabilities are at risk of losing important service programs.   Also at risk, are the thousands of direct care and other individuals working to support their day-to-day needs. 

The Federal Government is spending billions to create jobs and invigorate our nation’s economy.  Says Okazaki; “When it comes to recovery and reinvestment, people with disabilities and those who work for them are Americans too.  All we are asking for is the same opportunities for getting restarted as everyone else”.   

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