The Down Syndrome Network operates as a not-for-profit organization serving families with members with Down Syndrome in Champaign County. The DSN offers support to families by providing current information for parents, professionals and the general public. We also reach out to new parents and try to raise awareness of Down Syndrome in our community.
Illinois Budget Cuts Threaten Services to DSN Members
The State of Illinois has proposed a 50% budget cut to Human Services. Dale Morissey, the CEO of the Developmental Service Center in Champaign, has written a letter to the editor of the News Gazette which explains the situation. This issue has become headline news in our community. Read about it here.
The bottom line is that we still have a chance to be heard and change legislators minds about cutting the Human Services budget by 50%. This is our last chance. I know many of you have received earlier emails about calling legislators. Thank you for getting your voices heard but we have to RAISE our voices now and SHOUT to be heard. Please encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to call and write their legislators and papers about this issue. The sad fact is that our State Parks will remain open but our children and loved ones with developmental disabilities may not be able to receive services, employment training, or even have a place to live. We have to let our community know how devastating this budget cut will be.
DSN is working on a flyer to distribute that will have pictures of our children and adults with disabilities. If the Human Services budget is cut by 50% than half of those pictures will be of children and adults that will not get services. We would like to show our community the faces of these people that this proposed budget might affect. If you would be interested in sending us a picture of your loved one with Down Syndrome to help our cause please email it to Wendy Barker. In addition, DSN is trying to find out when our local legislators will be in their offices. We would like to bring some of our children/loved ones in person to their ofice when we voice our opinion about the proposed budget cut. We will communicate more details about this as we find out more.