For Immediate Release: March 5, 2002

Contact: Susan McKinney (217) 753-1190

Advocacy groups who represent community human service agencies have come together to reject the FY03 budget proposed by Governor George Ryan in his 2/21 Budget Address. The Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF), The Arc of Illinois, United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois, Don Moss and Associates, and The Institute on Public Policy agree that the proposed budget will devastate the community human services system. The groups totally reject the proposed cuts in the Department of Human Services budget for services to persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness.

Janet Stover, Executive Director, IARF stated, "The cuts proposed in the Department of Human Services are a direct assault to the community. If allowed to pass, vulnerable people will be denied services, have services reduced, and in some cases will be denied housing. In a time when Illinois government should be strengthening the community system, they have chosen to damage it."

The cuts to the community system come on the heels of the overwhelming hole in Illinois’ budget. However, it is the consensus of the group that people with disabilities and the community services that improve the quality of their lives should not be asked to fill the budget deficit.

Don Moss, CEO of Don Moss and Associates and United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois, stated, "Illinois citizens with disabilities should not be asked to reduce their quality of life to make-up for the budget crisis in Illinois. Why should children and adults with disabilities have little to no access to services in their own communities because Illinois has a budget problem?"

Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois stated, "The proposed cuts speak very clearly that Illinois has chosen to take care of their own, while asking the community system and people with disabilities to pay for it. Legislators and employees of state institutions will continue getting step increases and merit raises while people in the community system will lose their jobs and others will lose services."

The proposed budget takes an incredible 5% from developmental disability services and 5.47% from the mental health system.

Jeff Turnbull, Executive Director, The Institute on Public Policy, stated, "It is undeniable that provider agencies will have to significantly reduce services to individuals with disabilities, and quite possibly close their doors all together. Community Based Services in some parts of the state will be unavailable, and because of this, the State will end up spending more, as people with disabilities will have no other alternative than to be admitted into State institutions."