Massachusetts families protest cuts to developmental disability services

From the Cape Cod Times:

BOSTON — Families who receive state services for the developmentally disabled came to the Statehouse Feb. 5 to protest deep cuts that Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed in programs under the Department of Mental Retardation.

About 300 clients, family members and advocates rallied at the Grand Staircase, outside the House chamber. They said the governor's proposed budget for the 2010 fiscal year would wipe out a family support program that has kept clients working, going to school and living with their families.

Without state support, they warned 11,000 children and adults would lose support services, and many could end up in more expensive residential settings. Close to 2,000 families on Cape Cod get state-funded support services for the developmentally disabled.

"The 2010 budget is going to be devastating to the families across the whole Cape," said Rob Spongberg, the executive director of the Arc of Cape Cod, which helps individuals live independently and work in the community.

The services range from case management to on-site job assistance, along with help in education, transportation and recreation.

"You're looking at $70 million in cuts to a group of services that has been chronically underfunded for as long as we can remember," Spongberg said. "This is not a group that is filled with overpaid executives."

Patrick's budget now goes to the House and Senate, which will propose their own plans this spring.

A final budget for the 2010 fiscal year is due July 1.

Jennifer Kritz, a spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, said the proposed budget would cut $26.2 million in DMR accounts.

"Of course, these are difficult fiscal times, and we had to make some very hard budget decisions," she said. "That said, the Department of Mental Retardation is very committed to serving people with developmental disabilities."

Advocates said all services to the developmentally disabled, including DMR, would take $78 million in cuts, including emergency mid-year cuts that have already been made.

The families are hoping House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, and Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, reverse the cuts. Advocates hope a federal stimulus plan or state reserves can make up the difference.

"President Murray continues to be supportive and sensitive to the needs of people with developmental challenges," Murray's spokesman, David Falcone, said in a statement. "The Senate will do the best it can with the budget as we continue to see a freefall in revenue. These are very challenging times, but the needs of our most vulnerable citizens will always be the first thing we look at when putting the budget together."

Patrick is aiming to close a $2.4 billion shortfall this fiscal year, and has had to make cuts to avoid a $3.5 billion hole in next year's plan.

Liz Goulart of Sagamore, who has two children who receive family support services, attended the rally. She said the cuts would affect everything from transportation to employment for her family.

"It will make a big difference because we depend on those for them to lead fulfilled lives," she said.

Michael Walker, 46, of Hyannis, also came to the rally, hoping the individual support services he receives wouldn't be affected. With the help of Arc of Cape Cod, he is working two jobs, at a sports store and a supermarket.

"We don't want any of the staff to leave at all," he said.

The coalition of groups that sponsored the rally said another 500 people would lose employment or day services, and more than 200 children with autism would lose all or part of their services.

Joe Realbuto is the vice president for adult services at the May Institute, which has 14 community residences for people with autism or autism-like behavior on the Cape. Patrick's budget would cut $2.6 million, or 42 percent, from DMR's autism division.

"These are people that have no alternatives. So many of the individuals that are going to be hit the hardest have the capacity to work, have the capacity for employment. By eliminating or reducing that support, they can't. They lose that capacity and are left to do nothing," Realbuto said.