Advocates Set To Protest Against State Cuts For Disabilities Programs

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Parents and friends of the disabled were set to protest against proposed state budget cuts on Long Island Saturday.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, Margaret Raustiala said she is worried about what will happen to her son, who has autism, and the programs he loves at the Developmental Disabilities Institute in Smithtown, if Gov. Andrew Cuomo's $240 million in cuts for programs for the disabled go into effect.

"If these cuts go through, it's not going to be because DDI doesn't want to do the right thing. It's because they're not going to be able to do the right thing," Raustiala said. "It gives me sleepless nights, quite frankly."

Cuomo defended the cuts, saying many of the social service agencies overspend on executives' salaries.

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