The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, with the help of graduates from the Council’s Partners in Policymaking program, has conducted a series of focus groups around the state during the past two months to determine the impact  that the budget cuts had on human services and how the Tiers affected individuals with disabilities and their families. The Tiers are negatively affecting many people's lives, as the Council learned during the focus group meetings. And the picture is very bleak.

As individuals with disabilities get older and grow larger, it becomes more difficult for parents, especially aging parents, to care for those individuals. Some families have had a Personal Care Assistant to help with many daily living functions such as transferring individuals with disabilities from a bed to a wheel chair, re-positioning that individual on a bed, and assisting with bathing and toileting functions. With the implementation of the Tier System, many of these families are being told these services will be reduced, that there are less state funds available to help with the care of a family member who is disabled.