State Budget Crisis

A personal story of the proposed budget cuts impact:

My name is Helen Lo, and I'm a commissioner of the Commission on Disabilities and Vice President of the Advocates For Accessible Recreation, Inc., known as AFAR.  I'm writing you on the behalf of the AFAR Board. 

 

AFAR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which supports the San Carlos Special Needs Program, an afternoon school program for the disabled.  I was a participant from 1987 to 1993, where I went when my parents worked, and I was unable to go home like a regular person.  The San Carlos Special Needs Program is a safety net for kids and adults with disabilities.  Without the program, the parents/guardians would not know what to do with their child/adult after s/he get out of school and day program. 

 

With the budget cut, the City of San Carlos is forcing the increase of monthly fee by 216% for the Fall.  Most participants has assistance from the Golden Gate Regional Center, but there are few that doesn't get assistance from the Golden Gate Regional Center and pay in full.  There are several parents cannot even pay the full price and ask for scholarships to cover the costs, which AFAR steps in, but AFAR's budget is limited and counts on donations.  The public doesn't know about AFAR and wouldn't donate.  We expect many families would apply for scholarships to send their son/daughter to Special Needs for the Fall or pull their son/daughter out of the8 program if the board cannot support them. 

 

The board's budget is not earmarked for scholarships only and use the budget for other things, like refrigerator when needed, purchase of a new/used van when needed, informational booth for Hot Harvest Night, etc.  Currently, the board has decided to purchase an accessible minivan for wheelchair use. 

 

The bottom line is that the State budget cuts will drive families with disabled children and adults which depends on an after school/work program to a more poverty level and would not allow their disabled child/adult to be safe outside of schools and day programs, which drive parents to maybe quit their jobs in order to stay home and wait for their child/adult with disability to come home.  When parents are out of their jobs, they would have to get assistance from the State, which leads to a bigger deficit.

 

by Helen Lo