There was no way the state couldn’t notice this one. A couple hundred people turned out for our March on Harrisburg yesterday, where we rallied for state funding to end Pennsylvania’s growing emergency waiting list of disabled people needing services.
It now has over 21,000 families on it, of which only 5,246 will receive services this year. Many disabled citizens have been waiting for quality care for years.
We’re asking for a 3 percent budget increase from the state to sustain existing community programs. Without the care these programs provide, thousands of disabled children and adults throughout southeastern Pennsylvania will suffer severe reductions to their quality of life.
Thanks to everyone who came out, including Rep. Douglas Reichley, who helped lead the charge yesterday!
If you didn’t make it (and even if you did), take a look at the great shots we snapped.
And check back soon for my podcast with The Arc of Pa.’s Executive Director, Steve Suroviec, who also spoke at the rally. He’s got the scoop on what happened, and what this budget increase means for special needs citizens in Pennsylvania.
