From the Tallahassee Democrat:

A tanking economy and budget cuts in Florida have meant less government-funded support for people with disabilities like 46-year-old Mary Ann Sanderford, who has muscular dystrophy.

Sanderford had been successful at an art-based adult training program, selling her wares and gaining confidence. Funding cuts now mean she must cut back from five days a week to three days. She spends her days off watching television.

The state’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities reports a waiting list of 18,000 Florida residents. Each of the people on the list is entitled to services, but does not receive them because of a shortage of funds.

When the legislative session begins March 3, lawmakers will have to decide where to further cut an already bare-bones budget. Many who work in health care and social services say cuts have already been deep, and more could be devastating. As more state departments receive cuts, so do the people they serve.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm and is filed under budget, independent living, muscular dystrophy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.