Treatment programs face shutdown because of minimum wage increase
Kate Noll, 29, was isolated and depressed when she first moved to Arizona with her family, before her mother discovered her lifeline, east Mesas Marc Community Resources.
Cheryl Noll said developmentally disabled people like Kate thrive on structure and a sense of purpose. Kate had neither during her first three months in the East Valley. She became irrational. Her eating and sleeping habits changed.
Thats why Noll and other parents of developmentally disabled children, who are now adults, are worried about whether an increase in the Arizona minimum wage will have the unintended consequence of shutting down or curtailing the day treatment programs that developmentally disabled people need.
If I had Kate at home all day, I would be at home, Cheryl Noll said, forcing her to give up her job. We would lose our (health) insurance, we would lose our home.
Read more: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/treatment-programs-face-shutdown-because-of-minimum-wage-increase/article_0a6edcac-05e7-11e7-b7dc-03c51d634f09.html