Capitol Building Rally

Tungland Corp. is organizing another rally to raise awareness about the DDD/DES funding cuts. Here is the info from the flier that is going around:

Don’t Cut Us Out!

March & Rally

for

Arizona’s Developmentally Disabled Children, Adults, & Families

Thursday, March 19, 2009

MARCH 11:30 – 12:30p

Where: Route will be on the sidewalks around Wesley Bolin Memorial Park. We will start promptly at 11:30 AM and will circle around Wesley Bolin Memorial Park adjacent to the Capitol.

RALLY 1:00p – 2:30p

Where: The Senate Lawn at the State Capitol

Organizers: The Arizona Developmentally Disabled community and their provider service agencies represented by the Arizona Association of Providers for People with Disabilities.

Sponsors: If you or your organization would like to be a co-sponsor or volunteer for this event, please contact Colleen at 602.617.2129 or colleen@tungland.com.

· Speech by Arizona State Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and other community and political leaders, community members, and advocates.

· Activities during the Rally: Voter Registration, Locate Your Legislator, Participation via Petition, Give the Governor Your Opinion, Send a Message to Your State Legislator

· Music, Singing, Chanting

Why we’re marching and rallying:

· Last January 31, 2009 the Legislature passed a bill that drastically cut funding for 29,000 Arizona developmentally disabled adults, children, and their families. Governor Janice K. Brewer signed the bill.

· The Legislature ordered the Department of Economic Security to implement the cuts without giving the DES any guidance on how to do it. So the DES discharged staff, cut essential services such as Early Intervention Program (EIP) which helps children under three years olds with disabilities, and slashed the rates they pay to service providers by 10%. These devastating cuts threaten to put thousands of Arizonans with developmental disabilities in immediate and irreparable harm.

Contact Governor Jan Brewer, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix AZ 85007

Toll free 1-800-253-0883 FAX 602-542-1381 Phone 602-542-4331

Or online link at azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

DON’T CUT US OUT!

They are suggesting that participants wear black t-shirts, representing both loss of services, and the elegance and respect that should be accorded to ALL people. I don't know yet if I'll be attending, but if anyone who reads this does, please let me know how it goes! I'd love to see some pictures!