The Arc of Illinois

July 2, 2010

Leaders in The Arc:

The following letter to the editor was sent out to papers and legislators this morning.

Tony Paulauski

The Arc of Illinois

815-4664-1832

Letter to the Editor

The upside down world of Illinois politics is taking an unnecessarily harsh toll on people with developmental disabilities and their families. While legislators hide in their local offices abandoning their responsibilities in the state capitol, anywhere from 3,000 to 15,000 children and adults will lose vital community supports. In addition, about 800 of their direct care staff are about to enter the unemployment lines.

The new state budget handed over to the Governor slashes $94 million from community services to children and adults with developmental disabilities. That same state budget grants its state employees about $225 million in salary raises. And there is not one penny for the 20,100 children and adults on the waiting list!

This budget invests in state institutions and wasteful spending. It is a major step in the wrong direction.

We should be investing in families and community services. People with disabilities want supports to be independent and they want to be productive members of their communities.

Once again the upside down world of Illinois politics take precedent over good public policy and people with disabilities are the victims.

Tony Paulauski

Executive Director

The Arc of Illinois