State shouldn't cut special needs budget

As a parent of a special-needs child and a voter, it's still amazing how little many politicians know about special needs children, adults, and the number of families affected in the Northwest suburbs and Illinois.

Illinois ranks between 47th and 51st in funding for education, services and housing for children and adults with special needs. It's hardly a state which takes the explosion in autism cases seriously, or is aware of the number of families affected or makes enough effort to improve the education and services for a growing population.

The state wants to cut $350 million in child care funds from the budget. Involved in that budget cut is respite care funding for special needs parents to help pay caregivers, so they can go to work.

Families that qualify for funding receive less than $190 per month in many cases, and make up the rest of the expense to pay caregivers with their take-home pay. It's hardly an expense that's fleecing the state and is paid to people who reinvest the money back into the economy by receiving a wage.

I welcome the effort of freshman 56th District state Rep. Michelle Mussman, who I did not vote for. I applaud her attention and honest effort to reach out to families, understand the issues that special needs families have, listen and come up with private and state-funded out-of-the-box solutions to develop resources to help special needs families raise productive adults.

State Rep. David Harris's office is also reaching out to the special needs community in his 66th district.

Special needs families are not looking for free handouts from the state, but options to help provide quality child care, education, vocational training, employment opportunities and housing for special needs children and adults.

These two state representatives are showing more effort in reaching out than other local politicians like state Sens. Mike Noland, John Millner and state Rep. Fred Crespo. This is a strong reminder to them that the lack of attention and effort to help families is being watched and not forgotten.

Mike Baker

NW Suburban Chapter

Autism Society of America

Schaumburg