To: The Maine State House, The Maine State Senate, and Governor Janet Mills
Stop DHHS proposed cuts to Section 65 and Section 28
Maine DHHS is proposing cuts to Section 65 (services designed for students with significant behavioral needs) and Section 28 (services designed for students with cognitive impairment and developmental disabilities).
Why is this important?
I am the mother of a 14-year-old son who is nonverbal with autism. I cannot begin to tell you how important these services have been in helping my son progress towards being able to communicate with his family, friends, and community and manage his behaviors. We must speak on the behalf of these vulnerable children, and ensure they get the services they so greatly need. If these cuts are passed, more and more providers are going to close their doors and the burden will fall back on our public schools. These services are vital to ensuring these children get the help they need to gain skills that will help them become more independent by the time they reach adulthood. Without these services, what will become of them?