Bottom line with this word "Sequestration" we keep hearing is that supports to students in the form of transition services, supported employment, and even transportation for special needs will be CUT. Sometimes Congress and the Senate talk in these words that we special needs families dont have time to look up, read about, or watch the news - so this is what it means.
According to Webster Dictionary the word sequester means to "to set or keep apart from others" with the opposite meaning of the word to being "to take ownership or control of (something) by right of one's authority" with related words of "garnishee; appropriate, arrogate, preempt".
Regardless of the meaning of the word, how will the looming cuts will impact those in NY with needs can be found in this State by State listing. The summary of what it means to us and this in addition to other cuts already looming, a loss of $36.3 million in funds for about 440 teachers, aides and other supporting staff that are essential to our disabled child's success.
For those students who are transitioning and trying to make a go of college the loss of work study jobs may mean the inability to attend altogether. How about those receving extra services to help with the transition process into adulthood? These are students who are supported as well by ACCES/VR with those services being cut by $884,000 in funding for job search assistance, referral, and placement, meaning around 46,230 fewer people will get the help and skills they need to find employment.
Just as we have established the early intervention and early childhood importance of education and services in order to save money on services later in life there will be a complete elimination of 4,300 slots for children in New York, reducing access to critical early education.
This isn't all the cuts, but this is the majority of what will happen in education for our children and adults with disabilities. It's also in mental health and if sequestration takes effect, up to 373,000 seriously mentally ill adults and seriously emotionally disturbed children could go untreated. This would likely lead to increased hospitalizations, involvement in the criminal justice system, and homelessness for these individuals.
Our public health, security, transportation, utilities, basically every area of our lives will be greatly impacted by these Sequester Cuts.
