• A $1M increase over the Governor’s budget for Day/Employment programs for total funding of $124M
• A $9M increase over the Governor’s budget for Family Support/Respite programs for total funding of $41M
• A $500,000 increase over the Governor’s budget for the DDS Autism Division for total funding of $4.6M
• $6.5M for the DESE/DDS Residential Placement Prevention Program and language in 7061-0012 that reserves those funds for the program

• an additional $4M to fund Day Habilitation programs through MassHealth, with the chance of greater funding through a supplemental budget or reallocation from other MassHealth accounts
• $6.5M for the DESE/DDS Residential Placement Prevention Program—the same amount recommended by the House

Now we ask that the conference committee work together to fund critical DDS and MassHealth services. In light of the effective decrease in funding over the past five years, the restoration of funds will not constitute a boon to these programs. Rather it will provide sufficient funding for these programs to serve only a portion of worthy and eligible individuals and families.

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UPDATED @ 4:53 PM, MAY 18: New information indicates that the Senate Ways and Means Committee cut MassHealth Day Habilitation services by $18 million and reduced the program from 6 hours per day to 5 hours per day. This cut is in addition to the $5 million cut in the Governor’s budget. The total amount cut is $23 million. We need your help NOW in the Senate. Call your senator TODAY and ask them to support the amendments at the bottom of the page!

The Senate Ways and Means Budget is a tough one for our constituents. We will need all the help we can get from our sponsors. We will be reaching out to Senator Brewer and President Murray with the help of our amendment sponsors and friends in leadership. We ask that you reach out to your senators as well. Call them TODAY and ask them to support the amendments listed at the bottom of the page.

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With the passage of the state budget in the House of Representatives last week, our community saw positive developments towards restoring services. Noteworthy additions include:

• Partial restoration of Respite/Family Support Services cut in the House 1 budget
• Partial funding of Turning 22 Day/Employment Services
• Additional funding of waiver services within the Autism Division of DDS
• Clarifying language to line item 7061-0012 carrying out the Governor’s and Legislature’s intent regarding the DESE/DDS residential placement prevention program;
• Support of the Commonwealth’s Olmstead Community Integration program. 

Yet even with this additional support, many of these programs remain woefully underfunded. A comparison of the budgets from FY 2006 and FY 2011 shows that, among other programs, funding levels have either remained steady or declined for:

• Day/Employment Programs,
• Respite/Family Supports, and
• Turning 22

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The budget debate in the Massachusetts House on Tuesday brought further progress in funding services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The House passed Consolidated Amendment "F," which addresses issues around education and local aid and included $6,500,000 for the DESE/DDS residential placement prevention program.

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