Dear Senators, Assembly-members and Governor Cuomo,
All of the women you see in this picture with Senator Robach have developmental disabilities. The three closest to the senator live and work in the community, in the Rochester area.
The young lady on the left is my daughter, Jennifer. She is now 18 years old and participating in vocational training to one day live and work in the community as well.
To New York’s shame, living and working in the community has not always been the life-path for people with disabilities. We must never return to the horrifying history of institutionalization for people like my daughter.
Studies have shown that Early Intervention services lay the groundwork for the success these women are experiencing. While these women all need support, community based services and real jobs are not only better for them, they are less costly for “the systems” that support them than institutionalization could ever be.
I am very concerned that the current changes to Early Intervention services included in the Governor’s proposed budget will destroy service systems that exist in each county across the state, will force practitioners out of EI and limit the access to EI services for the children with developmental disabilities in NY. This is much more than a budget issue—this is a life-sentence for these kids, and for the state that will be supporting them for the rest of their lives. I believe that there are ways to address the fiscal needs of Early Intervention without these destructive consequences.
Please appeal to the Governor to maintain access for children with developmental disabilities to EARLY INTERVENTION and prevent high quality independent contractors and agencies from closing their doors.
Sincerely,
Terri Abrams (NYS Partners in Policymaking, 2002)
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