Blue Mass Group

Before we get to what is important, i need to get this out of the way….

A recent post here discussed  fernald, and a supplemental 10 million dollars to keep fernald program open for its residents.

Because i replied critically to the post i was, interestingly, accused of being a sock puppet for ADDP.  I’m not.  I’m not Gary Blumenthal either.  Never met him, don’t know him, although i think i did see him once. maybe. I think he introduced peter paul and mary at a rally i attended.

Wait…maybe it was just Peter, or Paul…Mary definitely was not there. No matter.

But they were introduced by some one who gave an speech in support of restoring budgets cuts that were effecting the states disabled.  Whomever he was, i agreed with what I heard. Might have been from Blumenthal. Wasn’t me, thats for sure.

So full disclosure. I post here as a parent of disabled adult. Period. Full stop. For those who care ( apparently this matters ) he receives services from a private not for profit agency which is funded, in part, by the state; as opposed to receiving state services directly. ( My apoligies, Dave ). I volunteer at that agency, as i have been involved in every place my son has ever been… whether it be local school, state programs or his current one. Although i certainly would work for a human services agency or the state- i don’t.

I’m a life long resident of the state. And i don’t plan any further discussion of sock puppets.

whew. got that out of the way.

According to DDS over 20,000 individuals whom are disabled live with their family. That includes children and adults. This extensive report talks about their needs…often in their words for instance::

“My wife and I have only been away from our son 2 nights in our 20 years of marriage. Divorce rates are high for parents of special needs individuals. We are continually running on empty. We don’t need a support group. We can never attend anything for our other children together. Taking care of our son is more than a full time job. “

All parents can relate to the need for a break…its only ratcheted up when your child is disabled…and the breaks, even if for just a hour or two are so important.

Yet here is an example of cuts: DDS Family and Respite Support.

For those of you not familiar, this funds programs that enable folks to stay with their families. It helps families. Caring for a disabled family member is difficult. But respite and familly support helps make it possible. Its apple pie, or should be.  And its been cut in the past and is proposed to be cut again.

$5.5 million cut for FY13.

But its been cut before as well, $10m cut in FY10. So over time this line item has seen $15 million in cuts.

The current proposed cut is estimated by the arc to cause 2,000 individuals to lose support. As its current funding it only can help about  half of the folks in need.

Cuts make it harder for families to stay together, harder to care for a loved one at home. For families that are trying to care for a disabled individual we should do everything we can to help them.

I support restoring the funding to FY10 levels…and oppose the proposed cuts.