Open Letter to Maryland Legislators: "It is truly immoral that the governor is proposing to cut the DDA funding..."

To my District 12 representatives,

Many of the people I have helped in the past with public school issues for their kids with disabilities now have adult children with disabilities. It is truly immoral that the governor is proposing to cut the DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) funding the way that he has. His slogan of leaving no one behind is a slap in the face to the people who need the most help. I believe that there are places where the DDA funding is not being used appropriately. But, instead of investigating fraud, he is using a bulldozer to dismantle services for people and their families who have struggled their whole lives. It reminds me of what Trump is doing on a larger scale. Surely there are places where the budget can be reduced in other places that are not going to have the devastating effects of this proposal. In fact, I know there are after working for 3 different state agencies.

The governor seems almost proud of his cuts to people with disabilities with his press release of also cutting funding for K-12 special education nonpublic schools. This is where a small percentage of the most disabled students must go because the public schools can't meet their needs. By cutting this funding, it will force local school systems to keep more kids in the public school - when they know they can't meet their needs. That is a reality because they can't afford anything else with the unfunded mandates of the Blueprint. So, more children will regress as a result. This impacts the rest of their lives and it will end up costing more when they are adults.

It is truly shameful that the governor, and maybe the legislature, is leaving behind our most vulnerable people. What do you think is more important - giving raises to state employees or meeting the daily needs of people with disabilities?

I hope you will fight for the rights of this group of people when you make decisions on the budget.

Respectfully,

Barb Krupiarz

Marylanders with developmental disabilities ‘scared, angry, concerned’ about looming $200 million in cuts to services

Maryland disability advocates are worried about the more than $200 million in proposed fiscal 2026 budget cuts to the state’s Developmental Disabilities Administration, fearing that access to needed services could be decreased.

Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, called for the $200 million reduction to the agency’s funding in his fiscal 2026 budget proposal following increased costs for the state. The cuts are just some pieces of a larger effort to resolve the state’s $3 billion budget deficit.

Spending for the DDA, which pays for services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has increased by more than $500 million over the last two years. The governor’s proposed reduction, described by Maryland Budget Secretary Helene Grady as “one of the most difficult” proposals in the budget, aims to bring next year’s funding back to fiscal 2024 levels.

Advocates and those who rely on DDA services are concerned about what could lie ahead in the next fiscal year. They’re also grappling with the impact of proposed cost-cutting measures on the agency’s funding in the current fiscal year...

Marylanders with developmental disabilities ‘scared, angry, concerned’ about looming $200 million in cuts to services