The Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities (MSCCD) issued an urgent action alert in response to a proposal circulating in Washington, D.C., that would drastically cut funding to key programs serving people with disabilities and older Americans. These proposed cuts could seriously affect Mississippi families, particularly those relying on these programs for support, advocacy, and protection.
“On the chopping block are the nation’s Protection and Advocacy agencies (Disability Rights Mississippi), the Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (USM Institute for Disability Studies), and Long-term Care Ombudsmen, among others who fight against abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and waste in disability and aging services,” wrote Pam Dollar, executive director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities.
Ms. Dollar stresses that weakening these programs could undo decades of progress in disability rights and aging services.
The Mississippi Coalition urges residents to contact lawmakers to oppose these proposed cuts. They’ve made it easy to take action by providing an online form that allows individuals to send a message directly to decision-makers in Washington. The Coalition emphasizes that this action only takes a couple of minutes but could make a crucial difference in preserving life-saving programs.
You can find the action alert and access the form to email lawmakers here.
Families as Allies supports efforts like these that us all the opportunity to have our voices heard by state and federal government officials. We encourage you to stay informed and follow the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities for updates on critical issues and subscribe to the Families as Allies newsletter, The Ally, for regular updates as well.
