Patti's Comments: It is really a shame that there is still such a shortage in services for folks, and long waiting lists for support.
From Rocky Mountain News: (click for entire article)
The flush of optimism the developmentally disabled community felt last summer with the signing of legislation to give them long-awaited relief and opportunities is fading fast.
The 10 bills Gov. Bill Ritter signed June 5 were meant to provide jobs for the disabled, increase oversight of care and reduce by as many as 700 the number of people on a years-long waiting list for service.
The waiting list is being pared slowly, but the econmy's collapse is wiping out nearly all of the other gains.
None of the job programs is under way, an online registry of abusive or neglectful caregivers isn't close to being ready and legislation seen as providing the next big steps forward for the disabled won't be introduced.
Lagging tax revenues are forcing almost every aspect of state government to scale back. But advocates for the developmentally disabled say they fear for that community if hard-earned gains are rolled back.
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