Rally puts faces to disability cuts

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Services that help the disabled have been put on the chopping block up at the state Capitol, spurring a march and rally Tuesday morning.

With state lawmakers looking to cut as much as $27 billion from the state budget, almost every agency is in jeopardy.

However, one of those that could be hit the hardest is the Department of Aging and Disability Services.

A group that would be affected by these cuts marched to the state Capitol Tuesday to let lawmakers know the impact the cuts could have on services.

The bigger issue is that federal funding for services, such as the Medicaid waiver program, runs out this year -- meaning that Texans with disabilities and their families fear the state will not be able to make up that gap.

These cuts could impact more than 13,000 people who are at risk of losing more than $96 million each year.

Much of that money is used for services to keep them at home and in the community.

And while the budget cut ax looms, a lot could happen from now until the session ends on May 30.