Below are links to articles related to the lawsuit filed again Governor Corbett over proposed budget cuts:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120315_Disabilities_advocates_file_lawsuit.html

Here is the link to the petition and press release on DRN’s website. http://www.drnpa.org/

Group Sues Governor Over Proposed Budget Cuts
Disability Rights Network Takes On Corbett

WGAL-TV – News at Noon
03/14/2012

Watch Segment:
http://www.wgal.com/video/30676835/detail.html

Susan Shapiro, anchor: A lawsuit is being filed against Governor Tom Corbett over proposed budget cuts. The services for Pennsylvania residents with disabilities. News 8’s Matt Barcaro is live in Harrisburg with more on the lawsuit.

Matt Barcaro, reporting:: Here it is, this was just filed today by mental health groups and different constituents in Pennsylvania. They say they’ve never actually filed a suit against the governor before for proposing cuts like this in the Department of Public Welfare budget but they fear they have to or thousands of Pennsylvanians who rely on those services will suffer. The mental health groups allege the Governor’s proposed 20 percent cut to the Department’s budget is way too deep and it violates the state’s requirement to adequately fund those services. They believe that this will hurt people with mental and behavioral disabilities the most and it will take away their safety net. The Governor has said time and time again that this has been a tough budget year and there must be cuts made but the state’s Disability Rights Network thinks it will actually end up costing taxpayers more.

Mark Murphy, Disability Rights Network: You cut community-based services for people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness – you don’t save money. What you do is you force them into higher cost services. People’s needs don’t change.

Matt Barcaro: You might be wondering why this is happening now, after all, the budget is still a proposal – nothing’s been passed yet – but the mental health groups think that even the Governor’s proposal of these cuts violates the law and they want to make sure that the cuts don’t become law.

Eastern Delaware County Consortium on Inclusive Recreation

The Arc of Delaware County has recently joined the new Eastern Delaware County Consortium on Inclusive Recreation as the ‘lead agency’ for the Collaborative Consortium. The Consortium is made up of organizations and individuals who promote the concept of inclusive recreation in Eastern Delaware County in a manner that will increase inclusive opportunities in schools and communities for people with disabilities.

Kelly Connell has been hired as the new special education advocate at the nonprofit The Arc of Delaware County, which advocates for those with developmental disabilities and their families.  Connell had been self-employed as a special-education teacher/educational consultant and as a vice principal at Chalutzim Academy

The Arc of Delaware County, which fights for the rights and opportunities for people with disabilities, hosted its Annual Legislative Breakfast for elected officials to update them on issues impacting Delaware County’s citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This included thanking legislators for their support on Adult Protective Services legislation as well as briefing them on Special Education legislation and discussing the necessary funding for the Commonwealth’s enormous waiting list for services.

Feature Speakers included:
Stephen Suroveic, Executive Director of the Arc of Pennsylvania
Sheila Stasko, Statewide Coordinator of the PA Waiting List Campaign

About 120 people total attended the event. This included elected officials and Arc of Delaware County members.

It was held Friday, October 15, 2010 from  8:00 AM- 10:30 AM

Drexelbrook Corporate Event Center
4700 Drexelbrook DriveDrexel Hill, PA

“By alerting local police about a person’s unique needs, the police and emergency responders will be better able to address an emergency where the resident might have a medical condition or a physical or mental limitation that would require special attention,” said council Chairman Jack Whelan.

News release

For more information, call 610-284-2205 or visit www.papremisealert.com.