State House Rally For New Revenue to Save Disability Services
RALLY FOR NEW REVENUE…. SAVE 23,000 LIVES!
Sponsored by
ArcMass ADDP DPC BCIL MWCIL Stavros ILCNSCA SILC & more
State House Steps
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
With Peter and Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary
More than 23,000 adults and children with disabilities and their families are slated to LOSE crucial services. IF THERE IS NO NEW REVENUE, THIS IS WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Tens of Thousands of adults getting Dental Health services… CUT
- 8,000 getting Day Habilitation services… CUT
- 2,600 adults getting Day/Employment services… CUT
- 11,000 families getting Family Support and Respite services… CUT
- 624 students graduating from school and needing Turning 22 services… CUT
And this is only a partial list. All told, there will be a $307 million shortfall, leaving thousands of individuals and families with disabilities stranded with nobody to help them, no place to go during the day, and nowhere to turn for a safety net.
The state MUST increase revenue to save these lives
More money is needed in the state budget
ALREADY BEHIND THE 8 BALL: Funding for disability services in Massachusetts has NEVER fully met people’s needs. Since 2006, disability and human service budgets have grown less than 2% annually (state-only dollars). This was never enough to provide necessary services for people with disabilities. BUT, if the proposed cuts go through, things will get MUCH worse.
The proposed budget would not only hurt the lives of the tens of thousands served through disability and human service programs, but it would HURT the Commonwealth’s economy for a long time to come.
Without long term supports there is no life in the community!
RAISE REVENUE / RESTORE THE CUTS!
This rally is endorsed by MFOFC, AFAM, MASS, MDSC, DPC, MDDC, MCHSP,
SILC, BCIL, MCIL, ILCNSCA, CLW, Stavros
For more information, contact The Arc of Massachusetts, 781-891-6270 or Disability Policy Consortium 618 499-6957
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