By Mike McElhinney
It stands to reason that there is one group of vulnerable Tennesseans we all must band together to protect: our family, friends and neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Having worked in disability services for more than 30 years, I am constantly inspired by the determination, energy and positive outlook displayed by people with disabilities. This is true in the face of daily challenges for those living with disabilities and the people who support them. More challenges loom as the state considers cutting critical funding for service providers of citizens with disabilities.
Tennesseans with disabilities number in the thousands, living in cities and small towns. Many require a highly complex network of services in order to have an opportunity to live, work and thrive in their own communities.In our state, more than 95 percent of these services come from private, community-based providers that rely on state funding to operate, enabling them to give support to more than 8,000 people.
However, these critical services could be negatively impacted due to rate cuts recommended in this year’s state budget. Even as the cost to provide these services continues to rise, the following has been proposed: a 2.75 percent rate reduction has been proposed in the state budget for all private providers; a 4 percent cut in services provided by intermediate care facilities that provide services to some of the most vulnerable people who want independence yet need strong support; and the elimination of the Family Support Program, which allows people with severe disabilities to continue living with their families.
These cuts represent millions of dollars in lost funding for providers serving Tennesseans with disabilities, further straining professionals who already are stretched thin as they strive mightily to support and care for our vulnerable and fragile neighbors. In fact, even at current funding levels, the needs of Tennesseans with disabilities are not being met. Almost as many people languish on the state’s waiting list to receive services – more than 7,000 people – as are accessing them.
The reasons for someone’s disability are as unique as he or she is. Therefore, the network of services that private providers offer is carefully constructed to meet each client’s needs. Disrupting one facet of care due to funding cuts can potentially disrupt all elements in the interdependent network. This network is vital, enabling Tennesseans with disabilities to live, work, remain healthy, and stay safe.
It is a community responsibility to help those with disabilities, and providers gladly accept it. Reduced funding will seriously compromise these carefully constructed networks, and lead to hardships for citizens with disabilities and their families.
Tennessee’s disability service providers respect the state’s need to balance the budget, but services for our most vulnerable citizens cannot come down to a budget line item decision. Cutting funding to the private providers who currently offer the best support most cost-effectively is not only the wrong way to balance the budget, it harms vulnerable people who deserve our protection. The lives of people with disabilities and their families already are challenging. They will be changed for the worse if funding is cut.
Thousands of your fellow Tennesseans need your help. Please urge Governor Haslam to maintain disability care in Tennessee by protecting funding for service providers. Civic, Social, and Greek organizations can do so right away with a petition signed by your members asking for his help or by respectfully contacting him at (615) 741-2001 or Bill.Haslam@tn.gov.
Mike McElhinney is the president of the Tennessee Community Organizations (TNCO), a statewide trade association for service provider organizations that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Tennessee.