For over 35 years Alvord-Taylor has advocated that people with disabilities deserve independence, dignity, and power. Our success in promoting independent living and providing genuine community involvement for our clients depends on stable government contracts and individual donor support.
The continuing economic crisis and across-the-board cuts by the State of Oregon has the potential to undermine the successes we have had. We are concerned that the instability in funding may negatively impact the quality of life for people with disabilities. Such funding cuts could return us to a time when Lane County residents with disabilities did not receive the services they need to live independent, productive lives in their community.
Critical decisions on how Oregon spends its resources will be made in the coming months and those decisions will reflect our State’s set of values for persons with disabilities. These decisions must reflect the values of inclusion, independence, and self-reliance for people with disabilities. Budget reductions and other funding decisions must not disproportionately impact people with disabilities, or disproportionately target community services, especially supports for living in one’s own home, participating in community activities, or in pursuing vocational or educational endeavors.
These uncertain times provide great opportunities to think creatively about how Oregon serves the disabled community. We must become more efficient and cost-effective while ensuring independence, dignity and empowerment for Lane County residents with disabilities.
With economic uncertainties, we ask you to join us in developing creative solutions that promote our collective vision of equality, independence, dignity and power. We ask you to join us in lobbying our legislature to improve funding for the developmentally disabled. We ask for your continued monetary donations. With your continued support, we at Alvord-Taylor will have the wherewithal to meet the needs of our disabled community.
John Fox, Executive Director