In her wheelchair, Kim Vermillion of Olathe makes a point by slapping the back of one hand to the palm of the other.

Her mother, Vickie, translates: More money is needed for Kansans like Kim who have disabilities but face waiting lists for services and possible cuts because of the state budget crunch.

The Vermillions were among a group of Kansans with disabilities and their advocates — called the Big Tent Coalition — who gathered Thursday at the Capitol to urge Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and the Legislature not to slice social service spending when looking for savings.

“We cannot afford more damage, more budget neglect and more opposition to all things that cost money,” said Tom Laing, executive director of InterHab, which represents agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities.

Advocates said proposed budget cuts by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Kansas Health Policy Authority and Kansas Department on Aging would have devastating effects on thousands of elderly people and people with disabilities.

The proposed cuts would be “penny wise and pound foolish,” said Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, because they would force many people who receive services in their own homes into more expensive and restrictive nursing home care.

Because of the worsening economy, legislators are looking at a $137 million budget deficit in the present fiscal year that could balloon to $1 billion in the next fiscal year.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has ordered state agencies to cut spending by 3 percent, but that won’t come close to bridging the revenue gap.

She has said she wants to protect funding for schools and social services, which together make up nearly three-fourths of the budget.

Even so, social service agencies have proposed budget cuts for a variety of programs that will affect the elderly and people with disabilities, the Big Tent Coalition said.

This comes at a time when those services already are underfunded and people who work with those with disabilities are underpaid, advocates said.

Andrea McMurray, of Lawrence, is a direct support professional at Cottonwood Inc. After 15 years there, she makes $12.03 an hour and works three other jobs to make ends meet. She said it would be nice to get a raise “so I can afford to stay at this job.”

The low pay results in a high turnover rate and that hurts people with disabilities, she said.

She works with Cole Browne of Lawrence, who said because of assistance from McMurray and others he is able to live in an apartment, go to college and work with Self Advocates of Lawrence.

Sheryl Nestelroad of Topeka, who has multiple sclerosis, said she has already suffered a reduction of services at home, and fears further cuts.

Going to a nursing home, she said, “costs more money and I would get sicker.”

Vickie Vermillion said her daughter Kim, 33, who has a progressive neural muscular disease, would like to live in a group home but has been on a waiting list for 2 1/2 years.

Vickie said that she worries about her daughter’s future.