In Canton, Advocates For Disabled Plead For Resolution Of State Budget Crisis

Fear and frustration were at the forefront as people whose children need state services for intellectual or developmental disabilities asked lawmakers to resolve a budget crisis that has cut off funding for those programs.

Those pleas came during a meeting on Wednesday, at the Canton headquarters of Favarh ARC of the Farmington Valley, organized by two private agencies that help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so legislators could hear from their clients.

“We need a budget to be passed. My son, her son and their son deserve a life,” Sandra Phair said tearfully, pointing to other parents who had spoken before her during the meeting. Phair, of Torrington, said her son, Deavon, is autistic and needs services that the state funds.

Lawmakers who attended the meeting expressed sympathy for the plight of those who spoke and for the frustration at the ongoing budget difficulties. But there was also little insight into how those problems might be addressed in whatever budget that may eventually be approved.

The legislators have been involved in issues effecting the disabled at the Capitol, and Jay Case, a Republican state representative from Winchester, said the budget his party has proposed fully funds day and employment services for people with disabilities.

“It is deep in my heart to see that you folks have what you need,” Case told clients and their family members.

Funding for day and employment services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities was cut this summer as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has run the state by executive order in the absence of an approved state budget.

Of particular concern for those who attended Wednesday’s meeting was funding for day and employment programs aimed at people who have recently turned 21 and no longer receive services through their local school system. Shannon Jacovino of the ARC of Connecticut said 330 people were expected to become eligible for those services this year but so far are not getting them because of the months-long budget crisis.

Phair and others who spoke said their children need the programs to continue the progress they have been making. They described feeling powerless as those services erode while legislators and the governor argue about a budget for the state.

Speakers said it is the most vulnerable who are being hurt the most, and Valerie Wiseman of Avon, whose son is a client of Favarh, accused state leaders of balancing the budget on the backs of people in the intellectually and developmentally disabled community.

Day and employment services for people already receiving them are in place but still have been effected by funding cutbacks. Lauren Traceski, a client of Favarh in Canton, said she could not work for a few days this summer because of those spending cuts. Traceski said the opportunity to work shows what she can do in spite of her disabilities.

“A job is how we show our success,” Traceski said.

Wednesday’s meeting was organized by Favarh, along with the ARC of Litchfield County in Torrington. A total of 17 people who need state services attended.

In addition to Case, state Sen. Kevin Witkos of Canton along with state Reps. Mike Demicco of Farmington, John Hampton of Simsbury and Derek Slap of West Hartford attended the meeting.