Kane County now has an initiative to form a 377 Board to serve the needs of the developmentally disabled. In order to get the referendum on the April 9, 2013 ballot, they need to collect 20,000 signatures from registered Kane County voters. They currently have 7,000 signatures and are asking Kane County voters, advocates and others to help them reach this goal by December 31, 2012. Advocates decided to act at this time because of the crisis in state funding for housing, transportation, jobs, job training and respite services. Local funds are being sought to provide care.
Organizers cite the needs of 10,000 adults in Kane County who need lifetime care, and another 10,000 who need a lesser level of care. This need grows as care-giving parents age and cannot care for their loved ones. Moreover, there are 17,000 students receiving special education services in Kane County. Some portion of these individuals will need care as they mature.
It is still possible for the County Board to approve placement of the referendum on the ballot, but there has been no action to do so. County Board President Chris Lauzen was also cited by the Kane County Chronicle as saying that if voters ultimately approved the levy, he would try to keep the effect tax neutral by cutting in other areas.
A well-developed website supports this effort at http://www.showyoucarekane.com The site has links to petition information, press coverage, and an explanatory power point presentation.
For more information contact Kathy Hazelwood,Vice President Marketing & Development, Association for Individual Development, 847-931-2290,Khazelwood@the-association.org
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