Abilis Lobbies State Legislators on Budget Cuts

Abilis CEO Dennis Perry and a group of 30 people with disabilities from the Abilis community joined some 50 organizations and more than 500 people in Hartford this week to advocate against state budget cuts.

The effort on Wednesday, called Lobby Day, was organized by the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance.

Perry visited the offices of state senators and representatives in hopes of rallying support for the agency's vulnerable people who will be most affected by the cuts.

Despite the activism, Gov. Dannel Malloy continued his budget reductions later in the day by announcing more than $17 million in cuts to the Department of Developmental Services including $9.7 million to residential services for people with developmental disabilities.

Since 1951 Abilis has provided life and therapeutic services to people with disabilities across the lifespan. The organization is based in Stamford and Greenwich and provides services to more than 700 people throughout Fairfield County and relies heavily on the state in providing those services.

Photos courtesy of Abilis. Participating in Abilis Lobby Day is Ross Perry of Stamford, son of Abilis CEO Dennis Perry, and is part of the Abilis community; Dennis Perry and a crowd from Abilis assembled in the Legislative Building; Dennis Perry and Aimee Slade; Dennis Perry speaks with Walt Kita, of Kuhn Employment Opportunities, in the Legislative Building in Hartford.