News 12 First at Five, October 24, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C.---Almost $500 million of spending cuts are on the desk of the South Carolina governor. Lawmakers say it's a necessary evil but, it's an evil parents with special needs kids do not want to see.

Margie Williamson waited three and a half years for her son Wesley, who has autism, to speak his first word. Now he's in a normal first grade classroom.

"He still has a long way to go," Margie said.

That progress could be stalled for her and other parents.

"I would hate to see these children not to see the services that my son received and not to see the outcome," said Margie.

Because of overspending, South Carolina's Department of Disabilities and Special Needs could soon see a 12 percent cut in their budget.

"We are in a really dangerous place right now," said Marcella Ridley, another mother of an autistic child. "I think (the cut would) be devastating for families -- devastating."

"In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to fight for needed services and equipment or things to make our children function better," said Crystal Ray, whose twin daughters have special needs. Crystal knows she's not living in a perfect world right now, but: "My plea is not to cut them."

"If they could just come into our world just for a couple of days and see what our kids can do, I feel like they would continue to provide services."

Lawmakers tried to spare big cuts in education, but Sherry Lawson says her special needs child's health is important too.

"We have to have healthy kids to learn and reach their potential," she said.

Senator Shane Massey says Senator Ryberg brought up an amendment to give more money to special needs, but that idea was voted down. Massey, who voted for it, said it was defeated by a wide margin.

The governor has until next Thursday (October 30) to either sign or veto parts of the nearly $500 million spending cuts.