PAR members, friends and colleagues, you are doing an amazing job sharing the value of your services and the stories of the people you support with your communities. Please continue! You are welcome to use any or all of the IDA Coalition's press release on the proposed budget entitled, "Governor Corbett’s Proposed Budget Will Hurt Families and People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism" in your outreach.
Here is another compilation of recent articles, interviews, and editorials that are appearing around the state. These resources and more are all available on the PAR website at: http://www.par.net/Advocacy/IntheNews.aspx.
The February 19th Pittsburgh Tribune-Review shows how services like summer camps could be abandoned as providers are forced to make tough choices to maintain other services. Parents are urged to "get mad, get vocal. Contact your legislator, your governor, your neighbor who has connections...Tell them, 'I'm a real person. This is impacting me and my family.' " http://tinyurl.com/6nr5pcq.
The editorial board of the Harrisburg Patriot News went on record on February 17th saying "Governor Corbett's Welfare Cuts Could Be Too Drastic" http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/02/think_of_the_poor_gov_corbetts.html.
Gwen Schuit, CEO of Friendship Community & Cynthia Beebe, Friendship Community's Director of Development talk to WDAC 94.5 FM about funding challenges for organizations working with individuals with intellectual disabilities: http://wdac.podbean.com/.
Fayette Resources was interviewed on WJAC-TV's February 15, 2012 evening news about the proposed budget: http://www.wjactv.com/news/news/fayette-resources-worried-about-its-future-helping/nHdfZ/.
February 9, 2012 feature story in the Philadelphia City Paper "Under Attack" mentions SPIN and the value of intellectual disability services to people receiving them: "I don't think everybody wants to go backward," says Barbara Romanisky, 52. "SPIN gave my life back": http://www.citypaper.net/cover_story/2012-02-09-tom-corbett-philadelphia.html?page=4&c=y.
February 8, 2012 column by Monica Yant Kinney in the Philadelphia Inquirer "Corbett Won't Dare Mention the Mentally Disabled": http://tinyurl.com/78lrr3v and then her follow up shares even more: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-blinq/More-tales-from-the-other-side-of-welfare.html.
A February 8, 2011 report on CBS Philly features the Arc of Philadelphia as one of many of the organizations who are worried by Governor Corbett's proposal: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/02/08/gov-corbetts-proposed-cuts-create-worry-for-social-service-organizations/.
Sharon Ward of the PA Budget and Policy Center's editorial in the Morning Call informs readers that Governor Corbett's proposed budget is "heading in the wrong direction" and mentions cuts to the most vulnerable: http://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-corbett-budget-proposal-counterpoint-ward-20120207,0,7857477.story.
February 6, 2012 article in the Scranton Times-Tribune "Agencies Serving Those with Developmental Disabilities Already Feeling Funding Cuts": http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/agencies-serving-those-with-developmental-disabilities-already-feeling-funding-cuts-1.1267327#axzz1lcL1f7Hs.
We have also been posting articles like these on PAR's Facebook and Twitter pages. Are you or your organization on social media? Please help spread the word by reposting or re-tweeting.
Have we missed some? Share your stories and links at par@par.net. And please don't forget to send a copy to your legislators as well.