- Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 12:15 PM
AURORA — Parents who care for children with disabilities shouldn’t be forced to consider moving them to residential care at devastating expense, State Sen. Linda Holmes argued, alongside families who might be affected by a proposed cut in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s FY 2016 budget.
“They send someone to help when I don’t have anybody,” said Joan Chioles, 83, whose son, 46-year-old James, has developmental disabilities and lives at home through help from the Aurora-based Association for Individual Development (AID). “I wish [Gov. Rauner would] come here and see what’s going on. It would be nice if he could come over here and visit some of these schools and these facilities.”
Lynn O’Shea, president of AID, said about 100 families who receive services from her organization could be similarly affected. For adults with disabilities who have aging parents, the only recourse may be residential placement that can cost families at least $50,000 and the state upwards of $35,000 per person, O’Shea said.