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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Critical Time Approaching for Tennesseans with Disabilities

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Friday, December 2, 2011   

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The threat of losing federal funding has parents of children who are intellectually- and developmentally-challenged (IDD) fearful that further cuts will threaten what little support they now have. Tennessee lawmakers have cut more than $47 million from IDD programs this year, and additional cuts will be on the table when the new legislative session begins in January.

Carrie Guiden, executive director of The ARC Tennessee, says a lack of public support creates a burden that often falls on parents. She cites teens who leave school programs that help them develop important skills as one example.

"They lose the skills they had when they were in school. Parents often have to quit work to stay at home with their son or daughter. They're becoming dependent on the system, and the more skills that child loses, the older they get, the more services they'll need if they ever become eligible. Or, when they go into crisis, you're looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars sometimes, to support that person – where, if they would have gotten the support right out of school, it may have been $10,000 a year."

Scotty Kimbrough, a Tennessee father of a developmentally-challenged daughter, says he has worked all his life and doesn't want anything given to him. He says his health is not great, however, and since the loss of his wife, he is now more fearful about his daughter's care.

"She's going to outlive me. Something's got to be set up for, not just her, but folks like her, where they can be taken care of and they're not turned loose. There's no way that she could live out on her own. I worry about that every day, you know. If something happened to me, where would she go?"

Guiden says lawmakers are not looking at the long-term consequences. She says more attention must be given to controlling costs and spending money efficiently to ensure adequate coverage for all Tennesseans.




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