Pennsylvanian's Speak Out Against Funding Threats to People with Autism and Intellectual Disability
The press can be a powerful tool in our advocacy efforts. We wanted to share with you some examples of recently published and recently aired pieces which highlight community intellectual disability services, the individuals that need them and the impact of the proposed FY2012 state budget on top of the negative rate adjust factor could have on them. As you can see, there are various approaches your organization might consider taking.
- On April 12th, the Harrisburg Patriot News published a front-page article on the intellectual disabilities field outlining the proposed budget cuts that are having an impact on the intellectual disabilities field as "policy changes ravaging services".
- On April 11th, Indian Creek Foundation CEO David H. Crosson, urged readers to remember that "cuts to human services have a human cost" in his Philadelphia Intelligencer published letter to the editor.
- The April 11th Harrisburg Patriot News called for DPW to stop "its 'survivor' style approach to the medical needs of Pennsylvania's poorest children".
- Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone urges the Commonwealth to "fund important county services for our most vulnerable citizens" and remarks that the proposed flexibility given to counties "resembles a trojan horse" in the West Chester Daily Local News on April 9th.
- In a March 21st letter to the editor of the Lebanon Daily News, a local social worker and director of mental-health programs is "horrified by the proposed 20% cuts to social services". http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/stop-taking-from-those-in-most-need/f1c1fa2dc008461db7da93a51d2ab972
- A WHYY NewsWorks article on March 15th tells the story of "'The Phoenixville Five', a group of men and women with severe autism" whose own homes are being threatened by funding cuts. http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/35358
- On March 15th the Harrisburg Patriot News published an op-ed article written by a single mother with a child on the autism spectrum who urges "our leaders to oppose the Governor's proposed cuts to DPW and to stand up for children with intellectual disabilties, including autism." http://blog.pennlive.com/editorials/print.html?entry=/2012/03/autistic_kids_arent_throwaways.html
- A March 5th letter to the editor in The York Daily Record written by a mother of a young woman with intellectual disabilities asks why "this vulnerable population is suffering a disproportionate cut in services at the hands of an administration more interested in cost savings without regard to the price to be paid by the people who need help most." http://www.ydr.com/letters/ci_20106212
- The Feburary 19th Pittsburgh Tribune-Review shows how services like summer camps could be abandoned as providers are forced to make tough choices to maintain other services. Parents are urged to "get mad, get vocal. Contact your legislator, your governor, your neighbor who has connections...Tell them, 'I'm a real person. This is impacting me and my family.' " http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_782363.html
- The editorial board of the Harrisburg Patriot News went on record on February 17th saying "Governor Corbett's Welfare Cuts Could Be Too Drastic" http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/02/think_of_the_poor_gov_corbetts.html
- Gwen Schuit, CEO of Friendship Community & Cynthia Beebe, Friendship Community's Director of Development talk to WDAC 94.5 FM about funding challenges for organizations working with individuals with intellectual disabilities: http://wdac.podbean.com/
- Fayette Resources was intereviewed on WJAC-TV's February 15, 2012 evening news about the proposed budget: http://www.wjactv.com/news/news/fayette-resources-worried-about-its-future-helping/nHdfZ/
- February 9, 2012 feature story in the Philadelphia City Paper "Under Attack" mentions SPIN and the value of intellectual disability services to people receiving them: "I don't think everybody wants to go backward," says Barbara Romanisky, 52. "SPIN gave my life back": http://www.citypaper.net/cover_story/2012-02-09-tom-corbett-philadelphia.html?page=4&c=y
- February 8, 2012 column by Monica Yant Kinney in the Philadelphia Inquirer "Corbett Won't Dare Mention the Mentally Disabled": http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/monica_yant_kinney/20120208_Monica_Yant_Kinney__Corbett_won_t_dare_mention_the_mentally_disabled.html and then her follow up sharing even more: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-blinq/More-tales-from-the-other-side-of-welfare.html
- A February 8, 2011 report on CBS Philly features the Arc of Philadelphia as one of the organizations who are worried by Governor Corbett's proposal: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/02/08/gov-corbetts-proposed-cuts-create-worry-for-social-service-organizations/
- Sharon Ward of the PA Budget and Policy Center's editorial in the Morning Call assures readers that Governor Corbett's proposed budget is "heading in the wrong direction" and mentions cuts to the most vulnerable: http://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-corbett-budget-proposal-counterpoint-ward-20120207,0,7857477.story
- February 6, 2012 article in the Scranton Times-Tribune "Agencies Serving Those with Developmental Disabilities Already Feeling Funding Cuts": http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/agencies-serving-those-with-developmental-disabilities-already-feeling-funding-cuts-1.1267327#axzz1lcL1f7Hs
- February 6, 2012 article in the Harrisburg Patriot News "State Budget Cuts Put Disability Services in Jeopardy" : http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/state_cuts_put_disability_serv/3032/comments-3.html
- A February 1st report on WGAL TV in Lancaster reports that United Disabilities Services is forced to cut jobs and consolidate: http://www.wgal.com/news/30345206/detail.html
- January 30, 2012 article in the Lancaster Intelligencer "Disabilities Take Budget Hit" http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/578159_Disabilities-take-budget-hit.html
- Jen Strausser, a staff member at Friendship Community was featured in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal January 13th: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/568145_Her-calling-is-caring.html
- The One Voice Coalition consisting of self-advocates and family members had a guest column in the January 6th Unionville Times: http://www.par.net/portals/0/Mailman/TheUnionvilleTimes.pdf
- The Arc of NEPA had this letter to the editor "service cuts hit vulnerable" published in the December 27th Scranton Times-Tribune: http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-12-27-2011-1.1249456#axzz1jue5fBmw
- A letter to the editor authored by Jim McFalls, Executive Director of KenCrest Services was picked up by a number of southeast region papers, including the Phoenixville Patch, http://phoenixville.patch.com/articles/letter-cuts-to-welfare-affect-those-with-autism-intellectual-disabilities, Warminster Patch, and PennLive.com/the Patriot News: http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/stop-funding-cuts-for-special-needs/5ecc973e815a4011b1bcece580d53964
- Lancaster County Friendship Community Celebrates 40 Years Of Helping (video clip from WGAL) http://www.wgal.com/video/30033175/detail.html
- PAR Board member Terry McNelis from NHS Human Services details recent funding cuts in an interview for NBC 10: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/shows/NBC10-issue/Pa.-Funding-Cut-for-People-With-Disabilities/135769908
- PAR Board member Mike Rice voices his concern in the November 8th Centre Daily Times: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/11/08/2978223/mentally-retarded-are-left-at.html
- Parent Dennis B. Downey authored this editorial in the December 11th Lancaster Sunday News: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/548137_Pa--must-not-abandon-disabilities-services.html (Note: this is the editorial reference by Shirley Walker in her testimony to the House Human Services Committee on ODP fiscal issues)
The following Philadelphia Inquirer article and letter to the editor are not specific to intellectual disability services, but we are hearing that recent drops in the Medical Assistance rolls are directly impacting people PAR members serve. We are in the process of gathering more information; if individuals you support lose benefits please contact par@par.net:
As we head into 2012 and into a new budget season, it will be critical that the general public as well as the legislature have an understanding of the vital role your organizations have in your communities, your local economies and in the families you support. We encourage members to include communications like these into your strategic advocacy plans for the new year.
Please share any additional pieces in the press that you find with gabrielle@par.net. Thank you!