State agency facing staffing shortage

Hartford (WTNH) - Due to the state's budget crisis, services at the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) will be slashed. Today, some parents of the disabled spoke out about how those cuts will forever change the lives of their children.

Laura Riccitelli says if she loses in-home help from DDS for her 19-year old daughter Brittany, she doesn't know what she will do.

"With losing services in our home I won't be able to work and if I can't work I won't be able to provide for her," Riccitelli said.

To help mitigate a ballooning state budget deficit, several state employee unions agreed to concessions that included an early retirement program. About 50 DDS case managers opted for the retirement program and they will not be replaced. That means about 3,000 families around the state who are not on Medicaid will lose their case managers as of July 1.

"In the community throughout our department through a point person I don't know how they would access services and that's the function of a case manager," said DDS case manager, Nicole Napoli.

Democrats say Gov. Jodi Rell is making those who need the most pay for the state's $8 billion budget deficit.

"Trying to decide who lives, who has a home, who has services in Connecticut. All communities of Connecticut have to help and support all the people in Connecticut," Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven).

And like they have on so many issues, the Democrats are using the power of the personal plea. Like Branford resident Sandra Astarita whose son has cystic fibrosis.

"Three thousand were just cut off from DDS. Discarded. Shame on you. Before one road is widened, one sidewalk is poured, how many case managers can be hired with the money cut off from our children," Astarita said.

In a statement, DDS says the cuts have been a difficult decision but necessary so remaining case managers can have workable case loads. Case managers we talked to say they would be willing to increase their work load if it mean families won't be cut off.