State Budget revealed - Yea and Yuk

The State Legislature revealed their budgets yesterday and you couldn’t find two diametrically opposed budgets for employment programs. The Senate budget proposal contains the same provisions as the Governor's Book #1 "All Cuts" budget including a 3% cut to County Employment Contracts, elimination of 'state only' funded employment and day services, funding for the transition students already on a waiver, no additional funding for other transitioning students, and suspension of the Jobs by 21 project. I testified at the 3:30pm Senate Ways & Means Committee hearing, to encourage restoration of funds they wanted to cut. The Community Employment Alliance had a strong contingent of people to testify against and ask for their reconsideration.

The House budget proposal contains exceptionally strong support for employment services for people with developmental disabilities. The mood amongst the Community Employment Alliance members attending last night’s House hearing was elation with everyone expressing joy especially for the add-ins. Their budget proposal does not reduce County funding, their budget does not eliminate 'state only' funding for employment and day services, it also includes funding for transition services for students on the basic waiver, and adds funding for 1,058 students not currently on the waiver.  Funding for all students - can you believe it? The House did also reduce funding and suspend the Jobs by 21 project.  Support for people with developmental disabilities received on the House side of the budget is appreciated.  A huge thanks to our Representatives for their work.

“Jobs are the Way Out”

I now have heard the Governor of the State of Washington and the President of the United States say that jobs are key to moving our state and country out of the recession. Why then aren’t the Federal and state governments supportive of individuals with significant disabilities finding and keeping jobs in the community? Federal economic stimulus money went to serve the least disabled (contrary to the priorities of the federal law). State monies to serve individuals in supported employment working in jobs in the community are earmarked to be cut by over 200 positions. Frankly, I don’t understand this – is it because policy makers don’t really believe that the job a person with a developmental disability performs is important? If that is the feeling held by policy makers then they aren’t listening to the hundreds of business owners that value the work and dedication these individuals have toward their job. I have heard from scores of business managers, supervisors and owners who extol the work ethic and outstanding work performed by the individuals we support in the community. Business owners get it. People with disabilities get it. Our staff get it. Why don’t bureaucrats and policy makers get the fact that people with developmental disabilities want to work, are good workers, and just need a bit of support (like us all) to succeed?