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The Arc of Illinois launches LIFE Campaign

Posted By Jim Hagerty On April 13, 2011 @ 5:43 pm In Happening Now | No Comments

Online Staff Report

Tony Paulauski, Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois will be in Rockford on Thursday, April 14, to launch “LIFE, Fund critical services for people with disabilities.”

The campaign will begin with a public open house from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at The Arc office, 1222 E. State St.

“Illinois budget cuts are devastating the community based service system counties like Winnebago, Boone and Ogle depend on, and forcing many agencies to close, leaving people with very significant disabilities out “on the curb”, says Paulauski.

Illinois spends less than any other state to support citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live in their home communities.
The average cost to support one person living in the community is $50,000 compared to $192,000 per person in state institutions, and yet the proposed 2012 budget adds $30 million to state institutions while cutting community services by $76.3 million.
An estimated 3,052 local community employees across the state will be laid off while this budget proposes an 8.25 % wage increase for state employees AND the hiring of 950 NEW state employees.
“People with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families in our 3 Counties want to live in their own communities,” Jacki Neil Boss of the The Arc, of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties. “Community agencies can provide the support they need and also provide employment for local people while costing tax payers much less than institutions. This proposed budget cut isn’t good for anyone.”
For more information contact Jacki Neil Boss, at (815) 965-3455 or visit thearcofil.org. [1]

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[1] thearcofil.org.: http://www.thearcofil.org

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