EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!

PROGRAMS WILL BE FORCED TO CLOSE UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION NOW!

The Governor's proposed budget wants to cut $750 million from The Department of Developmental Services.  These cuts will shut down many facilities and programs. The time to act is now!

This means that 20% of services will disappear and lots of programs will be forced to close their doors.

What Can You Do?

1. Read "TAKE ACTION" to get familiar with what is at stake for facts.
2. Contact your representatives immediately and let them know that 20% cuts are simply unacceptable.
3. Contact the ten members of the Budget Subcommittee by phone, email or letter and let them know that cuts to the disabled will not be tolerated!
4. Pass the word to family, friends, and social networks like Facebook. There is strength in numbers and we cannot let this happen. Do it now!
5. Attached is a sample letter we would like you to use to send to your representatives.

Please check out the website for more information. If you can, go to your representative's local office and let them know you are an advocate for individuals with disabilities.

Thank you and Keep us Posted as we continue to do the same for you.

Click Here for survey option and article.

Information on the $750 Million Reduction For Developmental Services
Also reported earlier was the Governor’s proposal for a $750 million reduction in state general fund spending for developmental services that includes the 21 non-profit regional centers.  

The bulk of that cut will most likely come from the 21 non-profit regional centers who coordinate community-based services and supports to over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities. The regional centers contracted under the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) also coordinate the state’s early intervention program – called Early Start – that serves over 25,000 infants.  

The proposed $750 million reduction does not include any lost federal matching funds which would likely push the total reduction in spending in developmental services to close to $1 billion (all funds). This reduction is on top of 2009’s permanent and on-going $500 million reduction (including federal funds lost) in developmental services (the bulk of it impacting regional center funded services). 

The $750 million reduction in State general fund spending proposed by the Governor would include the continuation for at least another year of the existing 4.25% reduction in payments to most regional center providers and to regional center operations which was scheduled to end as of June 30, 2011. That reduction would, under the Governor’s proposal, continue at least through June 30, 2012 – though the savings or reduction amount actually is permanent.  

The reduction also would be achieved through several unspecified measures, including imposing new accountability and transparency measures; and implementation of statewide purchase of services standards – first attempted in 2002 by Governor Gray Davis.

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