06/12/2026
Council Calls for Immediate Reversal of Funding Cuts to Lee Specialty Clinic
The Council on Developmental Disabilities is deeply concerned about the recent funding cuts to Lee Specialty Clinic, a critical provider of specialized medical, dental, behavioral, and therapeutic services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These cuts will leave countless families without access to the trained, knowledgeable professionals they rely on for safe, appropriate, and effective care.
Lee Specialty Clinic is the only facility in Kentucky designed specifically to meet all the complex needs of the IDD population. Their clinicians, therapists, and direct support staff possess highly specialized expertise that is not easily replaced. Families often describe these workers as “unicorns” — uniquely skilled professionals who understand the medical, dental, behavioral, sensory, and communication needs of people with IDD in ways that typical healthcare settings simply cannot.
Once these experts are lost, they cannot be quickly or easily replaced. The state risks dismantling a workforce that took years to build and that families depend on for safe, competent care. Without immediate action, individuals with IDD will face longer wait times, fewer treatment options, and increased risk of crisis or institutionalization.
The Council urges the Cabinet to reverse this decision as soon as possible. Kentucky cannot afford to lose the only specialized multidisciplinary IDD clinic in the state, nor can families bear the burden of navigating complex needs without trained support.
We also call on families, caregivers, and community members to make their voices heard. The IDD community deserves to be valued, protected, and supported — not pushed further to the margins. Decisions of this magnitude must reflect the lived experiences of the people most affected.
The Council remains committed to advocating for equitable, accessible, and specialized care for all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We stand with the families who rely on Lee Specialty Clinic and will continue to push for solutions that protect and strengthen the services they depend on.
