Advocates decry state cuts for disabled

Hope to put a face on statistics

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

"We are here to help build a larger recognition of the issues," said Harriet Yaffe, executive director of The Arc of Southern Maryland, one of the agencies responsible for organizing the meeting. "We need to share personal stories and share data about this funding crisis. People have to understand that it affects a lot of people, not just in Calvert County, but all around the state," she emphasized as the crowd took seats.

"These town hall meetings are being held all over the State of Maryland," Yaffe explained in her opening remarks as she introduced her co-host for the evening, Donna Retzlaff, executive director of Spring Dell Center in Charles County.

"People in Southern Maryland who have developmental disabilities, their families and those people in agencies who provide residential, vocational and support services for these individuals are facing a crisis," Yaffe said. "We [already] have long waiting lists for services; only people with the most extreme situations can actually access some of them. We have service provider agencies that have been under-funded for many years and now with the economic crisis we're all facing, the cuts we've experienced over the years, we're [now] facing even more.

"We've come together tonight to talk about these problems."

The concerns were raised immediately by Retzlaff.

"I represent just one of the many providers in Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles Counties. I think … it's certainly no surprise to many of those in this room that we're all struggling," Retzlaff told the audience. "…We've had to swallow our pride here in the past several months and openly admit that due to unfunded mandates as well as an underfunded system, we're all financially struggling — more than ever. Because of this, we all have to make changes within our own organizations."

According to Retzlaff, the financial crisis for those who provide services for the developmentally disabled is not new, just worse.

"Through the years, with a grossly-underfunded system, we have been able to survive because of collaborative partnerships, because of shared resources, because of creativity, because of fundraising; also because of private contributions and the support we have received from our local counties," she said.

"Now, in the blink of an eye, those additional resources that we have been able to collect are all being absorbed and reductions must now take place in order for us to keep our heads above water. The burden is too much to bear; underfunding for years and now extreme budget cuts."

Retzlaff went on to explain that, until recently, many providers, in spite of underfunding by the state, have been able to use self-generated or donated funds to provide programs and services beyond merely those legally required by the state. Now, with the expected proposal by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) of additional budget reductions for consideration by the Board of Public Works at its Nov. 18 meeting, such programs are likely to disappear entirely, Retzlaff said.

The town hall meeting provided a forum for nearly a dozen Southern Maryland residents to describe the dependence they and their families have on such programs, particularly aging parents who care for their own parents as well as a developmentally disabled adult child.

Others focused on the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Community Services Waiting List — those who are eligible for services but cannot be accommodated due to lack of funding. In June 2009, the state Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) reported that the list included more than 19,000 Maryland children and adults with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism waiting for DDA-funded community services, according to a handout at the meeting. The handout cited thousands of families who have been waiting for more than a decade for needed services and supports. With more caregivers becoming elderly, the handout states, "families worry how much longer they can hold on."

A number of state and local elected officials were in attendance or represented at the town hall meeting. All appeared sincerely sympathetic to the plights described by some of the public forum speakers and pledged whatever support they could give. However, other than letters and/or telephone calls to the governor and his staff, most said there is little they can do to be of real or practical help, citing the severity of the state's overall financial situation.

Although several of the state officials said they might be willing to back an increase in the alcohol tax with dedicated funding for the developmentally disabled, none gave such a measure much of a chance of passage.

Del. John F. Wood (D-Charles, St. Mary's) cited past failed efforts at trying to increase the alcohol tax, referring to the alcohol industry in Maryland as a "sacred cow." Del. Peter F. Murphy (D-Charles) agreed and said no increase in the tax is likely.

rrenneisen@somdnews.com