From the Lawrence [KS] Journal-World, WDAF Kansas City, KWCH-TV Kansas City:

Kansas disability rights advocates pleaded with state lawmakers to roll back a planned 10 percent cut in Medicaid funding, saying that the $22.7 million reduction would put the lives of vulnerable people at risk.

At a Capitol news conference Friday, advocates said the proposed cuts would end up costing more because they would force the state to place people in more expensive nursing homes.

“It’s just mind-boggling that we would cut those services only to force people into institutions which are going to cost taxpayers more dollars,” said Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas.

He said policymakers don’t understand that the cuts “are real and are devastating people’s lives, and without restoring those cuts, it’s only going to get worse.”

From the Los Angeles Times:

California Gov. Schwarzenegger’s most recent budget proposal would close 327 adult day healthcare centers centers throughout the state, with an estimated cost savings of $135 million in fiscal 2011. The centers serve 37,000 low income participants of all ages who have disabilities and chronic conditions including brain injuries, dementia and diabetes.

Advocates estimate that closing the centers would end up costing the state more money. More than 40 percent of current participants would end up in nursing homes and others would be hospitalized, said Lydia Missaelides, executive director of the California Assn. for Adult Day Services.

Eliminating adult day healthcare services would affect family members as well as participants, operators said.

“They would have to figure out how to take care of their family members,” said Cástulo de la Rocha, chief executive of AltaMed Health Services Corp., which runs Golden Age and seven other centers in Southern California. “It would impact their jobs.”

The Boston Globe reports that special education costs in Massachusetts school districts have soared over the past five years, rising at double the rate of other school costs in many districts. Special education now accounts for 20 percent of school costs statewide; 17 percent of students are identified as having disabilities.

Among the reasons for the increase: More students have severe disabilities than in the past, thanks to medical care that is saving the lives of children who might have died a generation ago. At the same time, cuts in state and federal aid mean financially strapped school districts must take funds from general education to sustain mandated special education services.

“The children deserve these services and we’re required to provide them,’’ said Peter Schafer, superintendent of Abington schools. “The problem is that these services are expensive. We’re given responsibility but not given the resources to fulfill the responsibility.’’

From AP/Business Week:

Special Olympics organizations around the country are cutting back on services and staffing as contributions and sponsorships decline. Special Olympics Inc. saw its year-end assets fall to $58.4 million in 2008, a 33 percent drop from $87.8 million in 2007. The Washington-based parent organization reportedly lost tens of millions of dollars when the stock market tanked in 2008.

Economizing measures by groups around the country range from the elimination of some mountain sports in Northern California to the suspension of statewide games in Oregon. Special Olympics Tennessee has stopped allowing new participants in some events, reduced the number of participants in others, and frozen salaries.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Financially struggling school districts across the country are taking advantage of a provision in federal law that allows them to divert federal stimulus funds earmarked for special education, using the money to ease their dire budget situations.

Advocates complain that students with disabilities are being shortchanged, while school administrators say shifting the money allows them to avoid layoffs and preserve programs that benefit a wide range of students. State officials acknowledge that they are lowering standards for graduation and drop-out rates for students with disabilities in order to qualify to shift the funds under the law.

“This is a slap in the face,” said Candace Cortiella, director of the Advocacy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit that advises students with disabilities. “This is historic funding that could have had a huge impact with [special-education] students, and states and districts have instead chosen to minimize the amount of good.”

James Notter, superintendent of Florida’s Broward County Public Schools, called the provision “an absolute salvation” for his district. “It’s about getting to the next day,” he said.

The editorial board of the Baltimore Sun says Maryland lawmakers should make people with developmental disabilities a top priority this year. An excerpt:

Maryland, despite its wealth, has lagged for years in services for its most vulnerable residents and those who give over their lives to care for them. The system is fast approaching a breaking point, but the state, caregivers and advocates should use that crisis as an opportunity to make sure Maryland lives up to the promise that all its citizens can live a life of freedom and dignity.

From the Trenton [NJ] Times:

Robert Hage, the father of twin daughters who are both developmentally delayed and deaf, called on New Jersey State Treasurer David Rousseau this week to avoid slashing services for people with developmental disabilities.

Hage’s daughters are among 160,000 New Jersey residents who would be affected if the state cuts funding for developmental disability services. Gov. Corzine has asked department heads to plan another $400 million in spending cuts.

“We depend and rely on these services so dramatically,” Hage said. “We desperately need to make sure there’s no cuts.”

Tom Baffuto, the executive director of the Arc of New Jersey, said the state threatened to cut services for people with developmental disabilities last year but backed down after advocates protested loudly.