Restore state funding for special needs home care

As the father of a daughter who has special needs and who depends on services provided by many nonprofit and state organizations, I am writing about the drastic funding cuts that are occurring to so many organizations.

This year, 23 percent has been proposed to be cut from the budget of home health care services at the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities. This is on top of 16 percent cuts that occurred last year.

My daughter, who is 34 years old, depends on residential services, day care, medical assistance, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.

There are many thousands of disabled New York citizens who are in the same situation and who depend on these vital services. It is unfortunate that residential and day program caregivers who work so hard, are so dedicated and who care so much for the needs of all these individuals are terribly underpaid for the work they perform every single day.

These reductions are unsustainable. Care will be compromised.

My personal appeal to state leaders, as the budget comes together, is to please fund the needs of the many New Yorkers who desperately depend on the government for care and compassion. With the pandemic relief bill just passed in Washington, some of this money could be directed toward paying workers fairly for the essential care they provide. We need them to consider providing the resources necessary to fully fund these vital programs that sustain and care for the most disadvantaged among us.

Michael Jesep