Guest guest Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 I am sure there is much more we could all add. That was a great letter. Brought a tear to my eye just reading it as it is so true. Thank you everyone who is fighting for all of us. I am so new to this fight even tho my son is 28 with Down Syndrome. I sent a letter to the Governor and plan on sending more letters today. I do not know how you all have the time. I have a hard time just reading my email, taking care of my son, and the daily chores. God bless you all who keep up on all of this and send the emails to inform us and answer all of my questions. Without you I would not be where I am today. I still have lots to learn but I have a great start. Thank you. Shirley From: ellenbronfeld <egskb@...> Subject: Great letter... IPADDUnite Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 3:55 AM Hi all: This is a REALLY great letter, though it is long... Sherry Laten wrote it and will be submitting it to the various newspapers.. . Ellen THE STATE BUDGET CUTS GAPING HOLES IN OUR LIVES What will happen to your child's early childhood program; your aging mother's services that help her live in her own home; your close friend's brother with autism who lives near him in a group home; your neighbor with Down Syndrome who bags your groceries at the local market; your cousin just back from Iraq who has a traumatic brain injury; the young family at church who needs expensive medicine for their chronically ill child? How will your spouse get to work without affordable public transportation? Will we be safe with half the state troopers and inmates being released early? What will happen to you, if the Illinois budget is slashed by 50%? As it stands now, every state agency will be affected by the deep budget cuts in Illinois. State agency budgets will be cut by 20%-50% and each agency director is responsible for determining the fate of the people they serve. This budget affects all citizens in Illinois. Some of us, however, depend on others a lot more, to make sure that our basic needs are met for shelter, food, clothing, education/work training, medical, educational, and psychological treatment, and hope. We are family, neighbors, friends, co-workers of all the people who will be most severely affected by the budget cuts. Agencies funded by the Dept of Human Services serve the most vulnerable among us. I know how devastating the budget cuts will be for these people, because, for the past 36 years I have worked with people with developmental disabilities and their families, one of the major groups slated for enormous cuts in DHS funding. Community agency administrators responsible for carrying out the DHS budget cuts are competent and committed people who have spent their lives trying to develop meaningful, effective, innovative, and personalized supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families on shoe-string budgets without the benefits of " bail-outs " and billion dollar bonuses. Community agency staffs have some of the hardest jobs in the state, taking care of the basic needs of people: feeding, dressing, toileting others with dignity; providing stimulating and safe environments and opportunities to interact in the community. But how can these agencies provide services to people with only 50% of the budget? Who will help the 85 year old grandmother from your aunt's church, who, with a heart condition, cares for her 40 year old grandson, who cannot talk or walk, and needs to be fed and lifted on and off the toilet? Who will help the family you know from the PTA, whose daughter with mental retardation and intermittent explosive disorder was making progress at a child care institution, and now will be sent home without treatment? Your friend says she will have to quit her job to supervise this child 24/7 so that she and her other children are safe. What will happen to your son's good buddy from school, who has cerebral palsy and seizures, when the supports he needs at school and home, are no longer there? What will happen to the young woman who bangs her head on the concrete floor until it bleeds, when she doesn't get the treatment and support that you can provide, as her doctor? Who will help the eight adults with disabilities living down the street who shoveled your walk last winter, when the staff necessary to maintain a safe, healthy and positive environment, are laid off? Who will provide in-home training and respite care for your sister's family, who has done the impossible to keep their son with autism and severe communication and behavioral needs at home? They sought services to prevent institutionalizing their son, which would cost the state 7-8 times as much as home care, and having to do so now, will devastate the entire family. What will the parents do, whose adorable 2 year old was just diagnosed with autism? Where will they go for help? What will they do with their dreams? Who will help the grandfather whose wife recently died, care for his step- daughter, who has intellectual challenges, and her two children with learning and developmental needs? He's the nice friendly man you always talk to at the corner store. What will happen to your mail at work, when the woman who puts it in your office mailbox and shreds the remains, no longer has a job coach to assist her? Who will help the adults with developmental disabilities living at Howe Developmental Center when staff is laid off? The federal government has already eliminated Medicaid matching funds to Howe because of the poor living conditions there. What will happen when nurses and program directors are laid-off from community agencies? Who is going to make sure the clients in the group homes and work programs, including your niece, are safe from harm and remain healthy? And who is going to resolve the inevitable crises that will erupt when programs are so short staffed? These are our children, siblings, parents, neighbors, relatives, close friends, people who provide services to us, co-workers, and fellow " church, synagogue, and mosque-goers " . What will happen to the young man with autism at the community center pool that you enjoy chatting with about computers on Monday and Wednesday evenings when you both go for a swim? During the day, you see him working, handing out towels and locker keys. What will happen to the faceless woman from the workshop that put the twist tie on your raisin bread and gathered the items for the holiday gift bags you gave your staff? These people cannot be left without a safety net. They are us. This system has already been stretched beyond its limits with few funding increases to mark the years. Many governmental and other monitoring groups have identified Illinois as having the worst services for people with developmental disabilities in the country. The WORST in all of the United States. Where's the safety net? How strong is it? How are you and I going to make sure that the people we care about lead safe, healthy and quality lives? Please contact your state legislators, legislative leaders and Governor Quinn to urge them to pass a state budget that meets the needs of THESE constituents today and insures their bright futures tomorrow. Sherry Laten, LCSW, Ph.D., Family Support and Behavioral Consultant, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 We will only be successful in our efforts if we are united in our mission. Thank you for your help! Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeld egskb@... Great letter... IPADDUnite Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 3:55 AM Hi all: This is a REALLY great letter, though it is long... Sherry Laten wrote it and will be submitting it to the various newspapers.. . Ellen THE STATE BUDGET CUTS GAPING HOLES IN OUR LIVES What will happen to your child's early childhood program; your aging mother's services that help her live in her own home; your close friend's brother with autism who lives near him in a group home; your neighbor with Down Syndrome who bags your groceries at the local market; your cousin just back from Iraq who has a traumatic brain injury; the young family at church who needs expensive medicine for their chronically ill child? How will your spouse get to work without affordable public transportation? Will we be safe with half the state troopers and inmates being released early? What will happen to you, if the Illinois budget is slashed by 50%? As it stands now, every state agency will be affected by the deep budget cuts in Illinois. State agency budgets will be cut by 20%-50% and each agency director is responsible for determining the fate of the people they serve. This budget affects all citizens in Illinois. Some of us, however, depend on others a lot more, to make sure that our basic needs are met for shelter, food, clothing, education/work training, medical, educational, and psychological treatment, and hope. We are family, neighbors, friends, co-workers of all the people who will be most severely affected by the budget cuts. Agencies funded by the Dept of Human Services serve the most vulnerable among us. I know how devastating the budget cuts will be for these people, because, for the past 36 years I have worked with people with developmental disabilities and their families, one of the major groups slated for enormous cuts in DHS funding. Community agency administrators responsible for carrying out the DHS budget cuts are competent and committed people who have spent their lives trying to develop meaningful, effective, innovative, and personalized supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families on shoe-string budgets without the benefits of " bail-outs " and billion dollar bonuses. Community agency staffs have some of the hardest jobs in the state, taking care of the basic needs of people: feeding, dressing, toileting others with dignity; providing stimulating and safe environments and opportunities to interact in the community. But how can these agencies provide services to people with only 50% of the budget? Who will help the 85 year old grandmother from your aunt's church, who, with a heart condition, cares for her 40 year old grandson, who cannot talk or walk, and needs to be fed and lifted on and off the toilet? Who will help the family you know from the PTA, whose daughter with mental retardation and intermittent explosive disorder was making progress at a child care institution, and now will be sent home without treatment? Your friend says she will have to quit her job to supervise this child 24/7 so that she and her other children are safe. What will happen to your son's good buddy from school, who has cerebral palsy and seizures, when the supports he needs at school and home, are no longer there? What will happen to the young woman who bangs her head on the concrete floor until it bleeds, when she doesn't get the treatment and support that you can provide, as her doctor? Who will help the eight adults with disabilities living down the street who shoveled your walk last winter, when the staff necessary to maintain a safe, healthy and positive environment, are laid off? Who will provide in-home training and respite care for your sister's family, who has done the impossible to keep their son with autism and severe communication and behavioral needs at home? They sought services to prevent institutionalizing their son, which would cost the state 7-8 times as much as home care, and having to do so now, will devastate the entire family. What will the parents do, whose adorable 2 year old was just diagnosed with autism? Where will they go for help? What will they do with their dreams? Who will help the grandfather whose wife recently died, care for his step- daughter, who has intellectual challenges, and her two children with learning and developmental needs? He's the nice friendly man you always talk to at the corner store. What will happen to your mail at work, when the woman who puts it in your office mailbox and shreds the remains, no longer has a job coach to assist her? Who will help the adults with developmental disabilities living at Howe Developmental Center when staff is laid off? The federal government has already eliminated Medicaid matching funds to Howe because of the poor living conditions there. What will happen when nurses and program directors are laid-off from community agencies? Who is going to make sure the clients in the group homes and work programs, including your niece, are safe from harm and remain healthy? And who is going to resolve the inevitable crises that will erupt when programs are so short staffed? These are our children, siblings, parents, neighbors, relatives, close friends, people who provide services to us, co-workers, and fellow " church, synagogue, and mosque-goers " . What will happen to the young man with autism at the community center pool that you enjoy chatting with about computers on Monday and Wednesday evenings when you both go for a swim? During the day, you see him working, handing out towels and locker keys. What will happen to the faceless woman from the workshop that put the twist tie on your raisin bread and gathered the items for the holiday gift bags you gave your staff? These people cannot be left without a safety net. They are us. This system has already been stretched beyond its limits with few funding increases to mark the years. Many governmental and other monitoring groups have identified Illinois as having the worst services for people with developmental disabilities in the country. The WORST in all of the United States. Where's the safety net? How strong is it? How are you and I going to make sure that the people we care about lead safe, healthy and quality lives? Please contact your state legislators, legislative leaders and Governor Quinn to urge them to pass a state budget that meets the needs of THESE constituents today and insures their bright futures tomorrow. Sherry Laten, LCSW, Ph.D., Family Support and Behavioral Consultant, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks! I will use this wonderful statement in all further e-mails to Advocates Network!!! Great letter... IPADDUnite Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 3:55 AM Hi all: This is a REALLY great letter, though it is long... Sherry Laten wrote it and will be submitting it to the various newspapers.. . Ellen THE STATE BUDGET CUTS GAPING HOLES IN OUR LIVES What will happen to your child's early childhood program; your aging mother's services that help her live in her own home; your close friend's brother with autism who lives near him in a group home; your neighbor with Down Syndrome who bags your groceries at the local market; your cousin just back from Iraq who has a traumatic brain injury; the young family at church who needs expensive medicine for their chronically ill child? How will your spouse get to work without affordable public transportation? Will we be safe with half the state troopers and inmates being released early? What will happen to you, if the Illinois budget is slashed by 50%? As it stands now, every state agency will be affected by the deep budget cuts in Illinois. State agency budgets will be cut by 20%-50% and each agency director is responsible for determining the fate of the people they serve. This budget affects all citizens in Illinois. Some of us, however, depend on others a lot more, to make sure that our basic needs are met for shelter, food, clothing, education/work training, medical, educational, and psychological treatment, and hope. We are family, neighbors, friends, co-workers of all the people who will be most severely affected by the budget cuts. Agencies funded by the Dept of Human Services serve the most vulnerable among us. I know how devastating the budget cuts will be for these people, because, for the past 36 years I have worked with people with developmental disabilities and their families, one of the major groups slated for enormous cuts in DHS funding. Community agency administrators responsible for carrying out the DHS budget cuts are competent and committed people who have spent their lives trying to develop meaningful, effective, innovative, and personalized supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families on shoe-string budgets without the benefits of " bail-outs " and billion dollar bonuses. Community agency staffs have some of the hardest jobs in the state, taking care of the basic needs of people: feeding, dressing, toileting others with dignity; providing stimulating and safe environments and opportunities to interact in the community. But how can these agencies provide services to people with only 50% of the budget? Who will help the 85 year old grandmother from your aunt's church, who, with a heart condition, cares for her 40 year old grandson, who cannot talk or walk, and needs to be fed and lifted on and off the toilet? Who will help the family you know from the PTA, whose daughter with mental retardation and intermittent explosive disorder was making progress at a child care institution, and now will be sent home without treatment? Your friend says she will have to quit her job to supervise this child 24/7 so that she and her other children are safe. What will happen to your son's good buddy from school, who has cerebral palsy and seizures, when the supports he needs at school and home, are no longer there? What will happen to the young woman who bangs her head on the concrete floor until it bleeds, when she doesn't get the treatment and support that you can provide, as her doctor? Who will help the eight adults with disabilities living down the street who shoveled your walk last winter, when the staff necessary to maintain a safe, healthy and positive environment, are laid off? Who will provide in-home training and respite care for your sister's family, who has done the impossible to keep their son with autism and severe communication and behavioral needs at home? They sought services to prevent institutionalizing their son, which would cost the state 7-8 times as much as home care, and having to do so now, will devastate the entire family. What will the parents do, whose adorable 2 year old was just diagnosed with autism? Where will they go for help? What will they do with their dreams? Who will help the grandfather whose wife recently died, care for his step- daughter, who has intellectual challenges, and her two children with learning and developmental needs? He's the nice friendly man you always talk to at the corner store. What will happen to your mail at work, when the woman who puts it in your office mailbox and shreds the remains, no longer has a job coach to assist her? Who will help the adults with developmental disabilities living at Howe Developmental Center when staff is laid off? The federal government has already eliminated Medicaid matching funds to Howe because of the poor living conditions there. What will happen when nurses and program directors are laid-off from community agencies? Who is going to make sure the clients in the group homes and work programs, including your niece, are safe from harm and remain healthy? And who is going to resolve the inevitable crises that will erupt when programs are so short staffed? These are our children, siblings, parents, neighbors, relatives, close friends, people who provide services to us, co-workers, and fellow " church, synagogue, and mosque-goers " . What will happen to the young man with autism at the community center pool that you enjoy chatting with about computers on Monday and Wednesday evenings when you both go for a swim? During the day, you see him working, handing out towels and locker keys. What will happen to the faceless woman from the workshop that put the twist tie on your raisin bread and gathered the items for the holiday gift bags you gave your staff? These people cannot be left without a safety net. They are us. This system has already been stretched beyond its limits with few funding increases to mark the years. Many governmental and other monitoring groups have identified Illinois as having the worst services for people with developmental disabilities in the country. The WORST in all of the United States. Where's the safety net? How strong is it? How are you and I going to make sure that the people we care about lead safe, healthy and quality lives? Please contact your state legislators, legislative leaders and Governor Quinn to urge them to pass a state budget that meets the needs of THESE constituents today and insures their bright futures tomorrow. Sherry Laten, LCSW, Ph.D., Family Support and Behavioral Consultant, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Thanks, . Ellen Ellen Garber Bronfeld egskb@... Great letter... IPADDUnite Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 3:55 AM Hi all: This is a REALLY great letter, though it is long... Sherry Laten wrote it and will be submitting it to the various newspapers.. . Ellen THE STATE BUDGET CUTS GAPING HOLES IN OUR LIVES What will happen to your child's early childhood program; your aging mother's services that help her live in her own home; your close friend's brother with autism who lives near him in a group home; your neighbor with Down Syndrome who bags your groceries at the local market; your cousin just back from Iraq who has a traumatic brain injury; the young family at church who needs expensive medicine for their chronically ill child? How will your spouse get to work without affordable public transportation? Will we be safe with half the state troopers and inmates being released early? What will happen to you, if the Illinois budget is slashed by 50%? As it stands now, every state agency will be affected by the deep budget cuts in Illinois. State agency budgets will be cut by 20%-50% and each agency director is responsible for determining the fate of the people they serve. This budget affects all citizens in Illinois. Some of us, however, depend on others a lot more, to make sure that our basic needs are met for shelter, food, clothing, education/work training, medical, educational, and psychological treatment, and hope. We are family, neighbors, friends, co-workers of all the people who will be most severely affected by the budget cuts. Agencies funded by the Dept of Human Services serve the most vulnerable among us. I know how devastating the budget cuts will be for these people, because, for the past 36 years I have worked with people with developmental disabilities and their families, one of the major groups slated for enormous cuts in DHS funding. Community agency administrators responsible for carrying out the DHS budget cuts are competent and committed people who have spent their lives trying to develop meaningful, effective, innovative, and personalized supports for people with developmental disabilities and their families on shoe-string budgets without the benefits of " bail-outs " and billion dollar bonuses. Community agency staffs have some of the hardest jobs in the state, taking care of the basic needs of people: feeding, dressing, toileting others with dignity; providing stimulating and safe environments and opportunities to interact in the community. But how can these agencies provide services to people with only 50% of the budget? Who will help the 85 year old grandmother from your aunt's church, who, with a heart condition, cares for her 40 year old grandson, who cannot talk or walk, and needs to be fed and lifted on and off the toilet? Who will help the family you know from the PTA, whose daughter with mental retardation and intermittent explosive disorder was making progress at a child care institution, and now will be sent home without treatment? Your friend says she will have to quit her job to supervise this child 24/7 so that she and her other children are safe. What will happen to your son's good buddy from school, who has cerebral palsy and seizures, when the supports he needs at school and home, are no longer there? What will happen to the young woman who bangs her head on the concrete floor until it bleeds, when she doesn't get the treatment and support that you can provide, as her doctor? Who will help the eight adults with disabilities living down the street who shoveled your walk last winter, when the staff necessary to maintain a safe, healthy and positive environment, are laid off? Who will provide in-home training and respite care for your sister's family, who has done the impossible to keep their son with autism and severe communication and behavioral needs at home? They sought services to prevent institutionalizing their son, which would cost the state 7-8 times as much as home care, and having to do so now, will devastate the entire family. What will the parents do, whose adorable 2 year old was just diagnosed with autism? Where will they go for help? What will they do with their dreams? Who will help the grandfather whose wife recently died, care for his step- daughter, who has intellectual challenges, and her two children with learning and developmental needs? He's the nice friendly man you always talk to at the corner store. What will happen to your mail at work, when the woman who puts it in your office mailbox and shreds the remains, no longer has a job coach to assist her? Who will help the adults with developmental disabilities living at Howe Developmental Center when staff is laid off? The federal government has already eliminated Medicaid matching funds to Howe because of the poor living conditions there. What will happen when nurses and program directors are laid-off from community agencies? Who is going to make sure the clients in the group homes and work programs, including your niece, are safe from harm and remain healthy? And who is going to resolve the inevitable crises that will erupt when programs are so short staffed? These are our children, siblings, parents, neighbors, relatives, close friends, people who provide services to us, co-workers, and fellow " church, synagogue, and mosque-goers " . What will happen to the young man with autism at the community center pool that you enjoy chatting with about computers on Monday and Wednesday evenings when you both go for a swim? During the day, you see him working, handing out towels and locker keys. What will happen to the faceless woman from the workshop that put the twist tie on your raisin bread and gathered the items for the holiday gift bags you gave your staff? These people cannot be left without a safety net. They are us. This system has already been stretched beyond its limits with few funding increases to mark the years. Many governmental and other monitoring groups have identified Illinois as having the worst services for people with developmental disabilities in the country. The WORST in all of the United States. Where's the safety net? How strong is it? How are you and I going to make sure that the people we care about lead safe, healthy and quality lives? Please contact your state legislators, legislative leaders and Governor Quinn to urge them to pass a state budget that meets the needs of THESE constituents today and insures their bright futures tomorrow. Sherry Laten, LCSW, Ph.D., Family Support and Behavioral Consultant, Buffalo Grove, Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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