SPRINGFIELD (WIFR) -- Under Governor Rauner's budget proposal for 2016, all state funding for Epilepsy would be eliminated, now local epilepsy advocates are trying to stop the cuts.
Supporters with the Epilepsy Foundation out of Rockford, have been in Springfield all day trying to make sure the 130,000 people battling Epilepsy in Illinois, don't lose crucial services.
Mary Orlandi is on the Epilepsy Foundation board and has a daughter who has lived with epilepsy for 42 years. She says these state-funded services have helped her daughter; things like seizure management, assistance with getting medication, therapy, training and more. Orlandi says money from the state can also help with a correct diagnosis.
"If it's cut, these children or even young adults or adults, are not going to get the support they need or the medications that they need because they're misdiagnosed," said Orlandi.
Orlandi says these services also help get Epilepsy patients to doctor appointments when needed. She says a lot of patients have to travel far for treatment, like her daughter who goes into Chicago.
Epilepsy advocates are stressing to write your local representatives, protesting these cuts. Right now, it's just a proposal, there's been no vote.
There is a walk for epilepsy on Saturday, April 18th at Heartland Church located at 1280 S Alpine Rd. in Rockford. Registration is at 9 a.m., the walk starts at 10 a.m. For more information click on the attached link.
Go here to read the rest:
Locals in Springfield to Prevent Epilepsy Cuts