The Arc & Families Plan Vigil to Convince Governor To Stop Proposed Cuts
Families and consumers are planning daily visits to the Governor's office starting this Thursday, October 8, 2009, to try and convince the Governor to not make deep current and FY 11 budget cuts to developmental disabilities programs.
Led by The Arc of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change, families and consumers will be visiting the Governor's office in a symbolic vigil to convince Governor Patrick that the deep cuts planned for DDS programs will tear apart the very fabric of the community disabilities support system.
Families and consumers will be coming in shifts to visit the Governor's office, providing a steady stream of visitors. There are limited seats in the Governor's public reception area. The goal is let the Governor, his staff and the public see the number of people who are distressed over the proposed deep cuts.
The Arc is encouraging participants to visit the Governor's office frequently on October 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 to ensure that the Governor and his staff understand that deep cuts to residential, employment, family support and day habilititation programs is likely to result in service termination for thousands of people with developomental disabilties.
A steady stream of visitors are expected to leave requests with the Governor to cancel the planned cuts and meet with disability advocates..
Following is the Vigil Announcement from The Arc of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change:
The developmental disabilities stakeholder community announced today that it will hold a vigil in the lobby of Governor Deval Patrick's office to protest the Governor's plans to eliminate services for thousands of people with developmental disabilities.
The vigil will begin on Thursday, October 8, 2009, and will continue until the Governor meets with developmental disabilities stakeholders to indicate he will protect disabilities services.
The Arc of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC) are organizing the event because of what they believe is the Governor's current plan to terminate over 10,000 people from community services provided by the Department of Developmental Services.
In a joint release, executive directors Leo Sarkissian of The Arc and Susan Nadworny of MFOFC said the proposed cuts would destroy the Commonwealth's safety net for the most vulnerable people in the state, causing them to lose residential, employment, transportation and family supports.
Sarkissian stated:"If the governor goes ahead with tens of millions of dollars in mid-October 9C cuts and $750 million in FY 11 cuts to disability services, it will mean the dismantling of the disability community services system".
Susan Nadworny stated: "Thousands of consumers, family members and human service workers are in shock over the Governor's proposed abandonment of people with developmental disabilities".
Organizers have been alarmed by the Governor's potential plans, noting that the human services and disabilities community cannot bear any further reductions due the state's funding problems-needs and numbers in need have increased during this difficult time. "We call upon the Governor to rethink his spending priorities and protect vulnerable people from devastating cuts."
People who plan to participate in the Vigil are requested to email advocate@arcmass.org
The Governor plans to annouce 9C cuts on or around October 15, 2009.
Please indicate a date and time when you can attend the Vigil:
Preliminary Vigil Dates:
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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