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Contact: Kevin Hensil

    Director of Communications

717-364-1732

kphensil@pasilc.org

INDEPENDENT LIVING SUPPORTERS RALLY FOR PRIORITIES

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 10, 2008 – Disability advocates from across the state and a bipartisan group of legislators rallied in the state Capitol Rotunda today to support restored funding for Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and a cost of living adjustment for services that enable people with disabilities to live in their community. See pictures from the rally

Governor Rendell’s proposed 2008-09 budget calls for a $450,000 reduction to the state’s investment in CILs from the current $2.25 million to $1.8 million, a devastating 20 percent cut.  If enacted, each of the 9 state-funded CILs would receive $50,000 less next year. 

“If funding is cut many CILs may be forced to consider layoffs and reducing the number of people with disabilities they help this year,” said Barbara Orstein, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living.  “In addition, CILs would be less able to provide worthwhile programs and services to many individuals, including persons are newly disabled, such as our returning military veterans.  It will mean that CILs will not be in a position to work as effectively with their communities to insure access to jobs, housing and transportation.”

The advocates urged the legislature to provide a total of $2.82 million for CILs to be invested as follows:

• $2.25 million for level funding
• $67,500 for a 3 percent cost of living adjustment (about $7,444 per CIL)
• $500,000 to establish two new CILs

“CILs have not received a funding increase since the 2004-05 state budget and the modest 3 percent COLA, similar to what other human service organizations have received in recent years, is desperately needed,” said Denise Corcoran, Executive Director of the Anthracite Region Center for Independent Living in Hazelton.  “With the cost of healthcare and fuel rising sharply, operating a non-profit on flat funding is making our mission of serving people with disabilities increasingly difficult. 

Pennsylvania has a strong network of 18 CILs, nine are funded by the state and nine are funded by the federal government.  CILs are non-profit, non-residential community based organizations that provide a variety of services and supports to more than 10,000 Pennsylvanians with disabilities annually, enabling them to be more independent.  By law, the majority of CIL employees must be people with disabilities. 

"CILs have made the dream of independent living a reality for many Pennsylvanians with disabilities and are an excellent investment in state dollars,” said Orstein, “CILs make it possible for many of us to get to work, live as vital members of the community or transition out of nursing homes into less expensive community based programs.  It’s important for the budget to reflect that truth.”

Home and Community-Based Services

The advocates also expressed strong support for the continued investments the Governor is proposing to make in Home and Community-Based programs, which enable people to leave nursing homes and return to the community or avoid entering a nursing home.  Like most states, Pennsylvania is in the process of redesigning how long-term care is provided.  The goal is a 50/50 split in spending--half for nursing home care and the other half for home and community services.

The Governor’s proposal would make investments to serve an additional 593 people in the Attendant Care program, which assists people with disabilities in performing daily living activities.  The Community Services for Persons with Physical Disabilities (CSPPPD) waiver?, which provides services to people with severe developmental physical disabilities, would be expanded to serve an additional 576 people. 

“Pennsylvania is making progress toward rebalancing our system, but we still spend less than 30 percent in the community,” said Thomas Earle, Executive Director of Liberty Resources, Inc., the CIL serving Philadelphia.

“We should not forget the attendants who visit the homes of people with disabilities.  Without them many of our brothers and sisters would be stuck in nursing homes.  That is why we urge the legislature to provide a 3 percent COLA for CSPPPD, the Attendant Care Program and all programs that enable people to live at home rather than a nursing home.”

The Governor’s budget does not include a COLA.  Pennsylvania has 10,000 paid attendants who provide assistance with daily living activities, such as meal preparation, bathing, grooming, and household chores. 

“Without a COLA these programs would not be able to keep pace with inflation and the problems of recruitment and retention will grow.”

ABOUT PCIL

The Pennsylvania Council on Independent Living (PCIL) is a statewide, membership-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the independence and empowerment of persons with disabilities. Founded in 1986, PCIL promotes the Independent Living Movement and voices the ideas of people with disabilities across the state.  For more information about the PCIL call 717-920-0530 or log on to www.pcil.net

ABOUT PA SILC

The Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council (PA SILC) is a nonprofit, cross-disability, consumer-controlled organization dedicated to securing public policies that ensure civil rights for people with disabilities by supporting the independent living philosophy. 

The PA SILC was established in 1992 to comply with the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments, which requires states to create a consumer-controlled advisory committee to the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's Independent Living Program.  In 1992, the federal Rehabilitation Act Amendments gave SILC co-signing authority on the federally-mandated State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

In compliance with state and federal law, a majority of the voting PA SILC members are persons with a broad range of disabilities and are appointed by the Governor.  Additional representatives are from Centers for Independent Living, consumer or independent living organizations, and various state agencies.  For further information, please visit www.pasilc.org.