PHOENIX — An East Valley mother who leads a coalition for disabled parents is calling on Arizona lawmakers to make cuts to the state's Empowerment Scholarship program, as children with impairments are facing service reductions.

Brandi Coon, executive director of Raising Voices Coalition, said cuts to attendant care and habilitation services will affect thousands of Arizona families.

The reductions for care around the home or life skills for disabled children are planned to begin Oct. 1. Virtual town halls to address the reductions are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

"We are preparing families for these polices to roll out, and that makes me so sad and heartbroken," she told 12News.

Gov. Katie Hobbs said reductions are needed at the state's Division of Developmental Disabilities (

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