Devastation to Disability Community

BUDGET CUTS DESTROYING THE HEART OF THE Developmental Disabilities COMMUNITY
Statement by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition Regarding Maryland State Budget Cuts

For Immediate Release: August 26, 2009
Governor O'Malley's budget cuts may result in short-sighted savings but will have a long term devastating impact economically and on the lives of people with developmental disabilities, their families, and their low-wage staff. Adults and children with disabilities such as Autism, Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy will suffer as a result of these cuts.

The Governor has announced approximately $24 Million in cuts to services that will impact directly upon thousands of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Among the cuts:

10% Cut to family support stipends and grants ($1 Million)
2% Cut in funding for Community Services Programs ($15 Million)
15% Cut to Service Coordination (approximately $5 Million)

The Coalition recognizes the current economic climate crisis in Maryland and nationally. However, the public and state officials must understand that these cuts disproportionally impact upon one of Maryland's most vulnerable populations.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Heather Ford, Media Liaison, 410-598-8256 OR Heather21228@msn.com
Laura Howell, Executive Director, Maryland Association of Community Services, 443-848-1384
Steve Pyles, President, The Arc of Maryland, (301) 643-4524 (cell)
Carol Beatty, Executive Director, The Arc of Howard County, 410-730-0638
Brian Cox, Executive Director - Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, 410-446-6025
Cristine Marchand, Executive Director, The Arc of Maryland, 410-991-9309 (cell)
Ken Capone, People on the Go of Maryland, 410-974-6139
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Family Support Grants (Rolling Access Funds) - $1 Million
The Governor's budget cuts include a 10% reduction to a state funding program for people with developmental disabilities (called Rolling Access Funds) that provides grants for desperately needed relief and assistance. These grants pay for emergency respite care when a parent is hospitalized, in-home assistance, special diets, diapers for teens, home modifications to keep a child at home instead of an institution and they enable families to continue providing care. These grants ultimately save the State money by enabling people with disabilities to remain at home with their families, rather than going into a high-cost state institution. "As a single parent whose 15-year old daughter has been on the DDA Waiting List for ten years, we are distressed to hear about these cuts," says Beth Munro of Rockville. "Due to a change in insurance, we were counting on Rolling Access funds to help pay for surgery scheduled in October related to Caroline's cerebral palsy. Our insurance through MHIP will only cover 40 percent of the usual and customary charges. A cut to Rolling Access funds will significantly impact our ability to pay for this needed surgery."

"These grants are the life line for families waiting for services," according to The Arc of Maryland Executive Director Cristine Marchand. "These families are caught up in the economic downturn plus the extra expenses and stress of caring for a family member with developmental disabilities. The Governor's cut to this program will impact over 1,000 families who struggle to care for their child at home."

2% Cut in Funding for Community Services - $15 Million

Budget cuts also include a 2% cut in funding for services to over 22,000 adults and children, in a system that is already facing a financial crisis. In Maryland, services for people with developmental disabilities are generally provided by non-profit organizations licensed by the State, and they have suffered years of inadequate funding.
With one in three DD Community service providers running a deficit; the announced cut of 2% will force agencies to reduce staffing levels, eliminate positions, and consider discharging people with higher needs due to the increase in uncompensated care. According to Laura Howell, Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Community Services, "These budget cuts represent the second cut to services for people with developmental disabilities in as many months. The safety net of services for many of our most vulnerable citizens is in jeopardy as a result."

This cut to existing services will negatively impact both people with disabilities, their families and their direct support staff they rely upon.

For example, many people with Down syndrome prematurely develop Alzheimer's disease, generally in their 40s or 50s. Older individuals with Down syndrome require an escalating cost of care as their needs become more significant. Often, the State funds do not cover this cost of care. As a result of the budget cuts, people with higher levels of need may face discharge, or may not be able to find quality community providers willing or able to meet their needs. Family caregivers in their 70s and 80s will suffer as well.

Low-wage workers provide daily assistance to people with disabilities, helping with everything from basic needs like bathing, grooming and eating, to job coaching and residential support. They are often responsible for ensuring that medications are taken properly, and are largely responsible for the safety and quality of life of people on a day-to-day basis. Direct support staff often work with people with complex medical and behavioral issues, and earn on average $10-$11, significantly below the starting wage of direct support staff in state institutions as well as direct care staff in other health care settings. The budget cuts will threaten the access these low-wage workers and their children have to employer-sponsored health insurance. Community providers facing sky-rocketing costs of health insurance benefits are considering cutting back or eliminating insurance coverage. This could force children of low-wage workers on to the Children's Health Insurance Program, at a far greater cost to state coffers.

Case Management/Service Coordination - Approximately $5 Million

Further cuts include a 15% reduction to case management services for people with developmental disabilities and layoffs for these staff. Case managers, known as resource coordinators, help people with developmental disabilities access services, act as ombudsmen to help ensure their safety and quality of life, and have been continuously monitoring people who recently transitioned from the now-closed Rosewood Center to community programs - a promise the Administration made to families as recently as three months ago when Rosewood was closed.
"Many people have no family member to help them negotiate the system and rely on experienced case managers to advocate for the specialized services they need, " says Nancy Pineles, Managing Attorney for Developmental Disabilities at Maryland Disability Law Center, adding, "Cuts to this service will increase the risk of harm to individuals who require skilled coordination of services." Pineles explains that DDA serves people with a wide range of abilities and very diverse and challenging disabilities that require individualized care. For example, DDA supports a young woman who was a child when she lost her parents in a car accident and was severely injured herself. Paralyzed from the neck down, she relies on a ventilator to breathe and staff to assist her with all daily tasks. She needs a case manager who understands how to plan and coordinate her needs.


For More Information on the End The Wait Now Campaign:

Michele Hill, Statewide Coordinator
End The Wait Now! Campaign
Be Aware. Find Out More. Get Involved
www.endthewaitnow.com
410-974-6895, x 109


The ETWN Campaign is coordinated by The Arc of Maryland
in collaboration with Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council