Advocacy Alert!

Stop Case Management Cuts for Mainers

with Developmental Disabilities

On December 6th, the governor's office announced the Supplemental Budget which contains proposed cuts to Targeted Case Management for persons with developmental disabilities.   You can do something about these proposed cuts! 

Click here for a downloadable version of the letter below designed for you to revise, sign. and send to your own Senators and Representatives asking them to vote against these cuts!

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Without the assistance of a case manager, it will be near impossible for consumers with developmental disabilities to successfully navigate the complicated governmental and community support systems that currently enable them to secure basic needs such as a home, a job and food. 

Persons who utilize these services are usually unable to read and/or write, and many have communication barriers and are unable to make their needs known without support.  Targeted case management allows these individuals to achieve successes that you and I take for granted each day. 

Here are a few examples of case management successes

[data from Spectrum Generations, the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging]

• Residential placement was secured for a young adult that will provide services to meet her housing needs;
• Collaboration with another agency linked a paralyzed consumer to funding for a trailer for his power wheel chair – allowing him to integrate into the community to shop and have his power chair (his legs) with him;
• Funding was secured for a community program where a young man will be able o learn new skills and work on pre-employment skills so he will be ready to work and support himself in the near future;
• A program was found to assist with the cost of two hearing aids for a woman whose world has opened up since she is now able to hear; and
• Homemaker services were put into place for an older woman – allowing her to remain in her own home with minimal supports.

These success stories were made possible by Spectrum Generations and the wonderful case management team they have in place to assist our neighbors in staying in the community and living more independent lives. If the proposed cuts go through, it will leave many adults with developmental disabilities at risk without access to day programs or jobs.  

Tough budgetary decisions need to be made.  Please ask your Senator and Representatives to look very closely at this vulnerable population and their needs before allowing this program to be cut.