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Marianne Fisher
Age: 59
From: Overland Park, Johnson County
Impact of Budget Cuts: Lowered Protected Income
Senator: Barbara Allen (8th)
Representative: Sue Storm (22nd)
Marianne's client obligation will increase from $74 to
$156, an increase of $82. She knows these numbers
very well, because they will affect how she lives her
life. Marianne has Lupus and a heart condition.
Because of her disability, Marianne must watch what she
eats, but with fewer funds, her ability to buy groceries is
adversely affected. She must continue to meet her
obligation or she will stop getting her medications paid
through Medicaid, and lose services from RCIL.
Living on less money makes it hard to do the little things says Marianne, "When you have your hands tied, it's hard to have any sense of dignity." Marianne points out it will now be harder to pay for a haircut, to get decent clothes, and buy personal hygiene products like shampoo. Marianne recalls the other day when a friend offered a ride, so they could go together to the movies, but she had to decline because she could not afford to see a movie. Marianne feels she should be able to have some simple pleasures in her life, but she doesn't get many, and the more they cut her standard of living, the harder it will be. "It gets very discouraging when you are trying your best. When you should be moving forward, you find yourself falling backward," says Marianne gloomily.
Beverly Saunders
From: Overland Park, Johnson CountyImpact of Budget Cuts: Lowered Protected Income Level
Senator: Barbara Allen (8th)
Representative: Sue Storm (22nd)
Beverly is blind and needs a PCA to help her with cleaning, laundry, cooking, and transportation. She is going to get a seeing eye dog in the future to help guide her when she is walking, but currently has to use guide rails, her cane, or another person for direction. Beverly recalls an instance the other day when she made herself some soup, but then missed the bowl completely when she poured the soup. Beverly's client obligation was raised to $230 a month, only leaving her with $564 in Social Security to pay for rent, utilities, phone, and food. With less money to live on, Beverly will have to buy less food just to stay in her apartment. She likes being in her apartment where she can walk around the building, and talk to others. She also enjoys going to meetings for the blind and bible study at church when she can get transportation, since she cannot drive. Beverly wants to continue to do those little things that make her happy. However, with less money to spend, it is harder for her to live on her own. Understandably frustrated, Beverly stresses, "I feel like I'm being hit and I can't do anything about it."
Mary Johnson/Vervie Davis l Contents l Barbara Bell
Statewide Independent Living Council of
Kansas
www.silck.org
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