SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THREATENED
January 26, 2012

PLEASE NOTE: FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE ALABAMA DISABILITIES ADVOCACY PROGRAM WILL BE SENDING WEEKLY UPDATES TO OUR EMAIL PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT THE SERIOUS BUDGET CRISIS.

Funding for children and adults with disabilities may soon be cut so seriously that some community agencies may be forced to close, leaving people with no services at all.  The Department of Mental Health (DMH) budget is likely to be affected in these ways:

Across-the-board cuts (proration) for the current year could be as high as 10%.  Since this reduction would take place halfway through the fiscal year, cuts would effectively be 20% for the remainder of the year.

For Fiscal Year 2013, which begins October 1, 2012, all agencies (including DMH) are likely to be cut by 25%.  This cut would result in a major reduction of existing services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse concerns.  Cuts at this level would mean that some people currently receiving services would have services cut and some people may have to return to large institutional settings.

The Alabama Legislature will convene February 7, and a budget hearing for the Department of Mental Health budget is scheduled for February 22 at 2:30.  A coalition of disability organizations are organizing an event in Montgomery to coincide with the February 22 hearing.  Details will follow.

This is the most serious threat in history to existing services for people with disabilities in Alabama. Preventing these cuts will require all of us to work together in the next few months!

The University of Alabama

Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program

Box 870395 - Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0395

website: http://www.adap.net

e-mail:adap@adap.ua.edu

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