New Jersey Budget Cuts Affect the Disabled in a Cruel Way

The New Jersey budget cuts for 2010 will negatively affect helpless, vulnerable, disabled children and adults in a cruel way. I am the mother of a son with severe Autism placed in a New Jersey group home. The Governor wants to strip these residents of all their SSI checks.

For the last 8 years, 75% of the SSI check was taken by the State, leaving only 25% for their PNA, Guardianship Fee, and a small amount remained. This small amount that remained allowed home visits with the family for extended periods, purchase of clothing for the client, grooming money, and recreation and entertainment money. This was in the best interest of the loved one.

By the State of NJ taking all the SSI check and compensating by an increased PNA allowance of $100.00, up from $40.00 is not in the clients best interest as the money would go to the placement itself with no control by the parent/guardian.

These Group Homes for these severely disabled children and adults do not efficiently meet the needs of the clients. Money is wasted, used inappropriately, and their needs are not met. I have to cut my son's hair myself. His nails brake off because they do not cut them. He often comes home in 2 different undersized socks and someone else's underwear. You have to be constantly monitoring the Group Home and provide for your child.

The most important thing for the severely disabled person is family involvement. I take my son home 2 1/2 to 3 months out of the year and they allow me. It relieves the home of some of the burden because these clients are very behaviorally involved.

Why is Governor Christie so cruel as to take from the most vulnerable of the population? New Jersey has an obligtion to my son and his family to take care of his needs because he was born here and was disabled here. I blame the toxic enviornment he was born in -- New Jersey -- that made him this way. Why strip him of his petty cash that we depend on for family support to meet his needs?

The Governor is heartless. He never tasted tradgedy. It is so painful to have a severely disabled child that you become numb to everything. But, taking a sick child's petty money that means so much to his mental and physical well being is lower than low.

Where is the Governor's sacrafice and his highly paid staff's sacrafice? They are all well fed and well suited and well taken care of with taxpayer's money. Can't he leave well enough alone for the sake of a severly disabled child with Autism?


UPDATE: After writing several politicians, all with positive results, disabled children and adults WIN !!!