Monday, February 28, 2011

California Families Fear Proposed Cuts


BRAWLEY, Calif. -- Seventy-one-year-old mother of five Maria Elena Miranda doesn’t know what will her happen to her youngest daughter, Cynthia, if the state cuts deeper into funding for programs that help her family.
Cynthia, a 31-year-old Brawley resident, is developmentally disabled, blind, has epileptic seizures, osteoporosis and is immobile due to cerebral palsy contracted at just 3 months old. She was born barely alive, her mother said.
Miranda said the free services her daughter receives from Imperial Valley Respite and other in-home services has helped her daughter live longer.
"I'm 71 years old. What am I going to do if they take these services away from us?" the concerned parent said in Spanish.
The Miranda family is just one of many Valley residents who are concerned with the proposed $750 million cuts by Gov. Jerry Brown to the general fund of the state Department of Developmental Disabilities.

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