Lawmakers from both parties listened to parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities as part of a Family Action Day hearing at the state Capital.  Speakers testified about whether Southbury Training School should be kept open and if new admissions should be allowed. 

Parents like Allison Jacobson told lawmakers they continue to wait years on end for housing opportunities for their children, some of whom are adults now.  Some speakers say they know whatever sympathy was expressed by lawmakers, their plea for funding could be lost in yet another deficit-driven budget battle.

Parent Al Raymond says for the last 29 years there have been no new admissions at Southbury Training School.  He argued against those saying that it costs more per resident than group homes do by noting that STS resident population gets smaller every year due to attrition.  Raymond says since 1986 there's been no new admissions to make up the losses, and by reopening admission it could lower the per person cost.  He says it could also reduce the waiting list of those who need special care.

Some speakers say they know whatever sympathy was expressed by lawmakers, their plea for funding could be lost in yet another deficit-driven budget battle.  One of the parents accused lawmakers of giving developmentally disabled people a lower priority in the budget than convicted criminals in the prison system.