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Proposed Budget Cuts Hurt Marylanders with IDD

February 1, 2025

Governor Moore’s FY26 budget includes several significant cuts to services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), which will negatively affect their access to opportunities, their support systems’ financial security, and home- and community-based organizations like The Arc. 

Action Alert: The Arc encourages all Marylanders with IDD, their families, support systems, and fellow community-based organizations to attend the Developmental Disabilities Coalition rally: 

Emergency Rally to Protect Developmental Disability Services 

📅 Date: Monday, February 3, 2025 

Time: 7:00 – 8:15 PM 

📍 Location: Lawyers Mall, Annapolis, MD (Directly in front of the State House, 100 State Circle) 

👥 Who Should Attend? People with disabilities, families, service providers, and all who care about the future of Developmental Disability services in Maryland. 

Get More Details About the Rally Here.

Over the last several years, Maryland has made historic investments in services for people with IDD to improve the quality, flexibility, and customization of those services. People’s lives are complex, and these investments brought greater self-determination and autonomy for people with IDD to live the lives they choose for themselves. Simply put, reducing funding for these key services now is unacceptable. 

The proposed revision of the Dedicated Hours Policy to require providers to exhaust Shared Hours in Community Living first will significantly impact the day-to-day lives of people with IDD. Being able to provide Dedicated Hours means people with IDD living with housemates don’t always have to do everything together. Withholding access to Dedicated Hours also goes against the spirit of the federal Community Rule that requires people to have choice in their daily activities. 

The governor’s budget doesn’t only involve revisions and reductions; it also includes eliminating entire services like the Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) Program. This change would negatively impact hundreds of people seeking a chance at support. The lottery for support through LISS is a lifeline for people and families who deserve access to quality-of-life-enhancing services they can’t get elsewhere. 

Cutting funding now means Community Living will become less person-centered, and LISS will cease to exist. Even if there are some cost-containing measures that are necessary, The Arc recommends a slow ramp to implementing any changes with opportunities for discussion and community input to ensure continuity of services.  

The Arc remains opposed to the proposed budget cuts in Governor Moore’s budget related to services for people with IDD as they currently are. 

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