“It was totally unexpected,” Russell Bonanno, director of The Autism Program’s statewide network, said Monday at a news conference at TAP’s Springfield headquarters.
Showing posts with label Illinois budget cuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illinois budget cuts. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Cuts Threaten Illinois Autism Services
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Hundreds of families in the Springfield area and thousands across the state face the possibility of abruptly losing services for their autistic children after an immediate $1 million budget cut by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Editorial: Community Care First
CHICAGO -- Three months ago, Gov. Pat Quinn
unveiled a budget that made the tough choice to shut down a handful of
government-run facilities around the state. He did it for good reason.
The facilities, including prisons and centers for the developmentally disabled, are unneeded and hugely expensive. The services they provide can be done much more efficiently, and their high cost puts a squeeze on funding available for other social services.
Now we're coming down to the final decisions in Springfield on state spending for the next fiscal year. The closing of the facilities are a bargaining chip.
The facilities, including prisons and centers for the developmentally disabled, are unneeded and hugely expensive. The services they provide can be done much more efficiently, and their high cost puts a squeeze on funding available for other social services.
Now we're coming down to the final decisions in Springfield on state spending for the next fiscal year. The closing of the facilities are a bargaining chip.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Illinois Cuts Endanger Jobs
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- In today’s economy, finding employment is harder than ever. Now just think if you have an intellectual disability, autism, blindness, hearing loss, or cerebral palsy. Although people with disabilities want to work, the challenges they face today are greater than ever before.
The budget passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate totally eliminates a program that is extremely vital to about 3,000 people with disabilities employed today because they have access to the long-term assistance of a job coach. This Division of Rehabilitation Services program only costs the State about $1M dollars per year to operate. The funds are used only for the purpose of keeping these individuals with the most significant disabilities employed. Without these services, the unemployment level in Illinois will raise by 3,000 more people.
The budget passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate totally eliminates a program that is extremely vital to about 3,000 people with disabilities employed today because they have access to the long-term assistance of a job coach. This Division of Rehabilitation Services program only costs the State about $1M dollars per year to operate. The funds are used only for the purpose of keeping these individuals with the most significant disabilities employed. Without these services, the unemployment level in Illinois will raise by 3,000 more people.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Opinion: Illinois Cuts Will Prove Costly
Guest column by Tony Paulauski, executive director of The Arc of Illinois, in the Rockford Register Star.
Illinois is planning devastating cuts in services for individuals with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. These cuts target our most vulnerable citizens and are being sold as a way to balance Illinois' estimated $13 billion deficit. The truth is, these cuts are shortsighted and will send us on a path of destruction.
Illinois ranks last in the nation for supporting citizens with disabilities in their home communities. Disability services that are the lifeline to more than 220,000 people with disabilities, and their families have already experienced deep cuts and are hanging by a thread. In addition to funding reductions several critical programs are being eliminated, and it’s estimated that 3,052 direct care staff will be laid off as a result. At the same time the budget calls for the hiring of 950 state employees and grants union employees an 8.25 percent wage increase.
Illinois is planning devastating cuts in services for individuals with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. These cuts target our most vulnerable citizens and are being sold as a way to balance Illinois' estimated $13 billion deficit. The truth is, these cuts are shortsighted and will send us on a path of destruction.
Illinois ranks last in the nation for supporting citizens with disabilities in their home communities. Disability services that are the lifeline to more than 220,000 people with disabilities, and their families have already experienced deep cuts and are hanging by a thread. In addition to funding reductions several critical programs are being eliminated, and it’s estimated that 3,052 direct care staff will be laid off as a result. At the same time the budget calls for the hiring of 950 state employees and grants union employees an 8.25 percent wage increase.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Illinois Families Fear Looming Budget Cuts
WAUKEGAN, Ill. — Robert, 50, could lose the place he's called home since 1983, but right now he's more concerned about a bag of pretzels. It’s almost time for lunch, and he’s hungry. He signs the word "please," and his dad opens the bag.
It's not Robert's job to worry. For his entire life, through bouts of seizures and a diagnosis of autism and profound mental retardation — through a series of disastrous placements beginning at age 5 — worry has been the job of his mom, Mary Vargas, and her husband Johnny.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Deeper Cuts, Deeper Pain
ELGIN, Ill. — For the next four years, Elizabeth and Chris Frederick know they will have services for Thomas, their 17-year-old developmentally disabled son.
However, after he turns 21, the South Elgin resident no longer will be eligible to get schooling, his parents said. It is during those school hours that they have at least some respite from caring for Thomas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cuts proposed in Gov. Pat Quinn’s 2012 budget could mean the respite care they now have — and other services for those with developmental delays — could be cut not only for them but for the 5,400 people served by the Association for Individual Development in Kane and Kendall counties.
However, after he turns 21, the South Elgin resident no longer will be eligible to get schooling, his parents said. It is during those school hours that they have at least some respite from caring for Thomas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cuts proposed in Gov. Pat Quinn’s 2012 budget could mean the respite care they now have — and other services for those with developmental delays — could be cut not only for them but for the 5,400 people served by the Association for Individual Development in Kane and Kendall counties.
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