Published: June 19, 2009 10:50 am      

ARC supporters protest cuts

OLNEY — If state Rep. David Reis didn’t already know proposed human services funding cuts were creating an uproar, he found out Thursday.

More than 80 people — including developmentally disabled people, parents, caregivers and friends — picketed Reis’ legislative office in downtown Olney Thursday. The group was protesting proposed budget cuts that would cause cessation of a number of services provided by Teutopolis-based ARC-Community Support Systems.

The proposed cuts also are expected to affect other human service agencies, such as Effingham-based Heartland Human Services

One service in danger is home-based support systems. Sue Wood of the Lake Sara area, whose 27-year-old son Joshua receives such services — said the ARC program is vital for Joshua’s continued development.

“We have no place else for him to go,” Wood said. “The socialization he gets from being around other people and the classes he takes are so important.”

Joshua, who communicates through sign language, said he’s concerned about losing the money he receives through ARC’s sheltered employment program. He’s not the only person who has that concern.

“I’m Josh’s personal assistant,” said ARC employee Nancy Thompson. “So, if the funding goes, I’m out of a job.”

ARC Executive Director Dick Reimers said the purpose of Thursday’s picket was to let Reis know what is at stake.

“We want to take our message to where it will do the most good, and that’s our state representatives and senators,” Reimers said. “It’s their responsibility to find enough money to take care of people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and children. We’re always the bottom of the barrel.”

Reis said the group was preaching to the proverbial choir.

“These services are very important,” Reis said. “This issue is one of my passions because these are the most vulnerable people in our society. That’s why when I see the money spent on insurance for illegal immigrants and all the waste and fraud in our state government, I get upset.”

Reis acknowledged some sort of tax or fee increase was probably in the state’s future.

“But we have to show the public we’ve made changes,” he said. “We need to streamline government and get the capital bill signed to create jobs.

“We’re ready to sit down and find solutions to these problems, but the majority doesn’t want to make changes,” said Reis, referring to the Democrats.

The General Assembly reconvenes next week to consider budget-related issues. Reis said he plans to propose a moratorium on new government programs for at least the next three years as a way to find money for programs such as ARC.

Reis said he’s hearing from other entities that rely on state funding, as well as human service organizations.

“It’s not just human services, but schools and extension offices,” he said.

Some of the picketers don’t have anything to do with ARC. Olney resident Dale Butler, who says he is mentally ill, said the proposed cuts also affect programs that help him.

“This affects anybody with any type of mental illness or disability,” Butler said.

But most of the picketers had some sort of connection with ARC. Newton resident Galen Mendenhall has a daughter who receives ARC services in Effingham.

“There’s a lot of frustration out there,” Mendenhall said. “This has been going on since the ’80s.

“We’re 51st in taking care of people with disabilities when the state has an income in the top 10,” Mendenhall said. “But we’re told everybody wants to blame everybody else.”

Debbie LeCrone of Effingham is worried about her daughter Dana, who is eligible to receive ARC services.

“She’s been on a waiting list,” LeCrone said. “But if these cuts come through, there won’t be anything for her. They are doing the unfathomable and we’ve got to stop them.”

Reimers said picketers planned to stand outside the Mount Vernon office of State Sen. John O. Jones today.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com.