Waterford — Proposed cuts to programs for youth and young adults with disabilities will be very harmful to them and their families, several parents told state Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Morna Murray Wednesday.

During a meeting at Camp Harkness attended by about 30 people, Murray, who took over as commissioner on Feb. 9, told the group that the budget is still being decided in the legislature and she is hopeful the final plan will restore some of the programs that would be cut by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s proposal. DDS serves about 19,000 people statewide.

Cecily Athenian of Waterford said her 21-year-old daughter, Jozelyn, is about to graduate from Waterford High School and has been preparing to enter a program for young adults with disabilities that would be eliminated by Malloy’s budget.

“I need a plan and a program for her,” said Athenian, fighting back tears as she described herself as a single mother who works two jobs.

Her mother, Patricia Athenian of New London, said the programs funded by the DDS budget are essential.

“It’s about the quality of life for these children,” she said. “They ought to put up tolls and let our children who are disabled have a life.”

Another mother of a disabled child, who declined to give her name, asked Murray what she and her staff are doing “to communicate to the governor and the legislature that the newest budget is totally unacceptable.”

Murray said because she works for the governor, she cannot advocate publicly, “but I am a strong advocate, and that doesn’t necessarily happen in a public way.”

The meeting was organized by the southeastern regional Connecticut Family Support Network. April Dipollina, regional coordinator for the group, urged families to contact their legislators and get involved in advocating for the DDS budget, including speaking at the General Assembly’s Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee forum at 10 a.m. today at the Legislative Office Building.

One woman with disabilities, speaking with the help of an aide, said she lives on her own and is concerned that cuts to the budget will reduce some of the services she depends on. Murray told her that because the budget is not yet final, the programs that are in jeopardy will not be known until the end of the session in June.

She assured her, however, that her department is committed to retaining as many programs as possible by finding ways to economize in other areas.

“We are looking to spend money more efficiently,” she said.

Danielle Green of East Lyme, mother of a 21-year-old son with autism, said she is afraid there will be no suitable programs for her son.

Murray replied that as the mother of a 21-year-old son with developmental disabilities, she understands her concerns.

“I know that fear that you’re talking about,” she said. “We’re going to take the budget apart” to find a way to fund “the most critical things.”

Among the cuts proposed in Malloy's budget would be a $35.8 million reduction over two years in DDS' voluntary services program, which provides treatment and support to children and adolescents with intellectual and psychological disabilities inside their homes.

Malloy has proposed a $1.06 billion budget for DDS in fiscal 2016 and $1.08 billion budget in 2017, said DDS spokeswoman Joan Barnish. The budget for the current fiscal year, after rescissions, is about $1.08 billion, she said.

Although the proposed budget appears to maintain level funding for DDS, contractual obligations and other nondiscretionary expenditure increases would mean there would be less funding available for programs under Malloy's plan, she said. 

Carmen Sands-Reeves of Salem said her 33-year-old son, who is “multiply challenged,” has been on a waiting list for a group home placement for years.

“I was told I would have to be on my death bed for him to get prioritized,” she said. “This is not the agency that should be taking big cuts.”

j.benson@theday.com

Twitter: @BensonJudy