Sep 3, 2009 9:36 pm US/Eastern
Dade Budget Cuts Would Affect The Disabled
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Angelina Gonzalez works with SCLAD and expressed concern over what Miami-Dade budget cuts would do to services for the disabled.
CBS
Talk to any of the groups rallying at Miami-Dade County's Government Center Thursday and they'll tell you heartfelt stories of how the commission's proposed budget cuts will affect them, but some of those who might have the most to lose are the disabled.
Thursday night, members of the Spinal Chord Living Assisted Development Inc. (SCLAD) showed up to commission chambers and pled their case because they risk losing one third of their funding in proposed budget cuts.
Pedro Rodriguez was one of the people representing (SCLAD) and he points out that the organization is a safety net for thousands of disabled people in Miami-Dade.
"The population we serve is really a very needy population, is possibly all at poverty level," said Angelina Gonzalez. "What we provide is just very basic assistance, just to provide some residential stability for them."
Members worry that anyone in the general population can become one of them. In fact, when CBS4's Michele Gillen first met Gonzalez, she wasn't bound to a wheelchair; she was just an advocate for the disabled. However, the severe effects of lupus have put her in a wheelchair.
Disabled groups benefiting from other programs in the county also made their presence felt and voices heard, including those who benefit from programs provided by the parks and recreation department.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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