Get Involved in the Process

For this blog entry, I would like to use the column to impress upon you the importance of your continued participation in the State of Indiana’s political process as well as your fight for people with disabilities. It is crucial for you to recognize the need for you to get involved.

This year, all of us have gone through another rough budget season at the State House.  The only good news that has come about is that the results could have been much worse if all of you had not participated in the political process. By contacting your Senators and Representatives to ensure further cuts did not go into the 2011 budget, you did make a difference.  I know this is not too comforting as many of you have either experienced cuts in your annual budget or will be experiencing cuts later this year. However, now is not the time to give up, now is the time to act by building relationships with your local Representatives and Senators.  I want to encourage you to talk to them and tell them your story.  Tell them what the waiver does for you or how it has made an impact on your loved ones. These people need to know your story.  Your story is the real reason the services are needed. Your story shows them that it is worth the effort for the State of Indiana to continue to care about people with disabilities and make them a priority.

Lastly, this is a marathon not a sprint.  There will always be another budget year, another new way of doing things, and another evaluation tool to be implemented. It is you and your stories of how these programs positively impact your lives which end up changing things for the good in the long run.  To get involved, please go to www.INquietcrisis.org or visit our Facebook page to "Like" us in order to receive notifications on important events or actions so that you may have an impact in the services for all individuals with disabilities.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Burlison