10/15/2026
When the Budget Gets Smaller, the Needs Don't Disappear.
Imagine being told tomorrow that your wages are being reduced.
Your bills don't decrease. Groceries don't get cheaper. Your responsibilities don't disappear.
So you make cuts. You work more hours. You experience more stress. And eventually, those financial pressures begin affecting your family and your quality of life.
Now imagine that same financial pressure being placed on an organization responsible for supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
When funding decreases while costs continue to rise, providers may face difficult decisions about staffing, wages, and the services they can offer.
But here's what makes this different.
The people receiving these services did not choose their disabilities. They have done nothing to deserve the challenges they may face.
They deserve safety, dignity, independence, and the opportunity to live meaningful lives.
For many, that requires trained, dependable employees who understand their individual needs.
When funding pressures lead to staffing shortages or service disruptions, it's not just an agency that is affected.
It's someone's home. Someone's health. Someone's independence. Someone's safety.
Nebraska has established protections for individuals with developmental disabilities because their health, safety, and rights matter. Those protections require qualified employees, effective oversight, and adequate resources.
I understand the need for responsible government spending. But we must also consider the human and economic consequences of reducing essential services.
The needs don't disappear when the funding does.
And neither does our responsibility to the people who depend on those services.
β Megan Vernon
President and Co-Owner, Independent Horizons LLC