Disability advocates bring families to Capitol to urge legislators to stop cutting services - MinnPost

Joe Kimball, MinnPost, March 23, 2010

While lawmakers continue to work through a billion-dollar state deficit, advocates for those with disabilities are keeping up pressure on the governor and legislators to stop making cuts to services that allow many disabled people to live and work independently.

Several families came to the Capitol today to tell how the cuts are affecting their children's ability to thrive and live on their own. Without adequate state assistance to these families, many could end up in state institutions at a much greater cost to taxpayers, advocates said.

Further budget cuts expected this session — and cuts from previous years — are now being felt with many people with disabilities. Many now get fewer hours of assistance from personal care attendants, and long waiting lists remain for those trying to move into independent living situations, where they could get daily living tasks so they can hold jobs.

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