Chants and cheers from nearly 800 concerned citizens filled the Downtown Sacramento streets on February 22 as the “Mommy Tsunami” protest walk finished its final leg from Caesar Chavez Park to the California State Capitol. The walk began on February 19 in Yuba City, where a group of Generation Y moms began a 60 mile journey to the Capitol in protest of Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed $1 billion budget cut to services for people with developmental disabilities.

Participants, families, employees and volunteers from disability advocacy and support groups joined in the rally sporting bright red t-shirts baring a large target that read “A Budget Target Again?” Their message is that the proposed budget cuts are simply too severe, come on the heels of significant previous cuts, and will devastate the entire system. “This cut would effectively dismantle the Lanterman Act,” said
one protester. Over 240,000 Californians currently receive services under the Act and are at risk of losing their services for in-home support, Medi-Cal, dental care, and other services.

Assembly member Jim Beall was the only legislator to come out in support of the rally and told the group that he understands the importance of the Lanterman Act and would take their concerns directly to the Governor. Many service providers argue that the proposed budget cuts hurt the most vulnerable Californians and won’t save the State money. A fact underlined by the $340,000 a year it costs to
institutionalize a person with a developmental disability in a State Center, versus an average cost of around $15,000 per person to provide
community-based services.

In addition to losing health and support services, Californians with developmental disabilities will likely lose their independence, jobs and businesses. Without needed support, these individuals may be forced to move into costly group homes, nursing homes, or State-run Centers. Protesters vowed that this was just the beginning, and their message was clear, “these are hard won rights and we will not let them go without a fight!”