The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Opinion

July 3, 2008

State budget shortchanges people with mental handicaps

THE RECENT “Super Kids” soap-box derby races in Sharon were a phenomenal way to help children with physical handicaps. Special Games for the Handicapped are being revitalized locally to provide an outlet for mentally challenged young people.

But while those activities provide a momentary thrill for youngsters, what does the future hold for handicapped Pennsylvanians?

Not as much as it should if you look at the budget recently passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ed Rendell. It especially falls far short of fulfilling the needs of people with mental disabilities.

The budget includes a meager 1 percent increase for funding of community-based mental-health and mental-retardation services, far short of even matching the cost-of-living increases forced by rising fuel expenses.

“That’s at least 2 percent short,” said an upset Bob Beach, executive director of the Arc of Mercer County in a conversation with The Herald. And that’s 2 percent short of just keeping up with what last year’s funding provided.

Supposedly, about 700,000 people across the commonwealth need such services as Arc and other local agencies provide. This includes autistic children, mentally challenged people living in group homes and even mentally handicapped adults who live at home with their parents.

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out that more than 4,000 families are on the emergency waiting list for mental-retardation services. And while a little bit was put in the budget to help less than a fourth of these families, it doesn’t come close to fulfilling the needs in Pennsylvania.

Obviously, nobody wants to see a tax increase in these trying times. But how much of the state budget goes to providing fluff projects for districts represented by top state officials? And since the budget supposedly shows a surplus, why isn’t more money going to help people who truly require aid?

According to Arc of PA officials, adding a 3 percent cost-of-living increase to the budget would have cost about $53 million more. Since the projected budget has a surplus of $550 million, why not shift a little bit of that surplus to where it’s truly needed?

If you ever visit the Arc workshop in Hermitage, you would get a firsthand view of just part of the success of programs for the mentally challenged. While providing jobs, Arc also provides a much needed sense of fulfillment for the men and women there. But more jobs are needed. And with the shameful amount allotted in the state budget, will some jobs be cut?

Arc receives some funding from United Way and local fundraising, but obviously the organization relies heavily on state funding.

Our local state legislators and senators need to look into their hearts and push to shift more money to help the mentally challenged. After all, if they can make a midnight vote on giving themselves exorbitant raises, maybe they could actually do the right thing and help people who really do need the money.







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