Fw: DD Services Preserved Until July 1st and MORE Information!

[Guest guest]

I think Charlotte's suggestion of a thank you note to Lilia Teninty is an

excellent idea...

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

DD Services Preserved Until July 1st and MORE Information!

Fellow Advocates… Yesterday I attempted to send the following e-mail. I have

no clue what happened but most of you got it without a message. I am trying

again this morning. I apologize for any confusion and duplicate information in

your in-box. I’ve included some further information. J Charlotte

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Family Support Network Members and Friends. . ..

From Yesterday: Great News!! A brief respite in our panic mode…

This afternoon (Monday), Illinois DD Director Lilia Teninty hosted a meeting of

advocacy leaders to announce that there will be NO reduction in services or

rates between now and June 30th.

Funding for the UIC Family Clinic, Epilepsy Grants, SUI Telemed, Dental Grants,

Respite (in-home), Voucher Respite, Group Respite, and the Family Assistance

Program has been preserved for the next three and a half months.

Now the incredibly hard work starts to save services for Fiscal Year 2012 which

starts THIS July 1. As wonderful as this news is, some have paraphrased this as

" a bridge to hell " .

Our work has just begun. More to come...

Charlotte

And a Few More Thoughts for Today…

I know that Director Teninty and her team have been fighting for us. Most of you

don’t have an opportunity to interact with her office directly. But, I want

you all to know their passion and desire to provide the best services possible

for people with disabilities in Illinois. Their job is heart wrenching at best

in these difficult economic times. Our mothers have taught us to write “Thank

You†notes. I think notes of thank you to Director Teninty will go far in

helping them maintain their energy in what will continue to be harrowing times

for all of us. Here’s an address:

Director Lilia Teninty

DHS, Division of Developmental Disabilities

319 E. Madison, Ste. 4N

Springfield, IL 62701

The fact that we were able to stave off these cuts for a few months says a lot

about the power of our advocacy. YOUR phone calls over the last two weeks were

critical to our success.

So pat yourselves on the back and get ready to dig in.

The “Battle for the FY12 Budget†will be far more difficult…

Over the next three months, the Governor’s office and YOUR State Senators and

Representatives will be deciding the Illinois State Budget for Fiscal Year that

begins this July 1st.

Illinois faces a budget deficit of over $13 billion. This number only seems to

go up.

The 2% temporary tax increase passed in January “only†provided $6 billion.

Back pension payments make up $6.5 billion of that $13 billion.

Do you understand the threat to disability services and your family members

future?

All of these services, the same ones we saved this week are still included to be

eliminated starting July 1st:

UIC Family Clinic, Epilepsy Grants, SUI Telemed, Dental Grants, Respite

(in-home), Voucher Respite, Group Respite, The Family Assistance Program

Our providers of service STILL face cuts of 6% to all service rates.

Monthly allotments in the Adult and Children’s Home-Based Support Services

Programs are included to be reduced by 10%.

Do your State Legislators know your name? Have they met your child? Could they

recognize you in the grocery store?

Call them up! Make an appointment. Really you have nothing to risk. Make sure

they understand your life.

Find their contact information at

http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx\

..

Contact me at fsn@... for handouts and talking points.

Charlotte