Advocates fight potential cuts

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Saturday, advocates for people with disabilities joined the fight against potential funding cuts. They have support in the state assembly and senate.

State Senator Tim Kennedy said, “We need a full restoration of the $120 million in cuts that was proposed and ultimately would hurt the families of individuals with disabilities.”

“The cuts affect all the really important services our children receive,” said Cathy Bunce, a mother of a child with a disability.

It’s a six percent proposed cut to local support services that Kennedy believes weren’t completely thought through.

Kennedy said, “The direct impact these cuts would have on families of those with disabilities, the workers who provide services and non profit agencies that provide those services wasn't taken into consideration.”

Kennedy and Assemblyman Dennis Gabryzack, also a Democrat, say the state senate and assembly both already added the money back to the budget.

Gabryszak said, “Members in the assembly when we conferenced this, member after member got up and spoke about the need and the importance of restoring the $120 million.”

That means its up to Governor Andrew Cuomo to approve the restored money. That's what these parents are really hoping for.