The facts are clear: The state is in an unprecedented budget crisis and, as a result, many vital programs are going to suffer by way of budget cuts.

Not as clear is the who, why, when or how the budget cuts will be decided and carried out, but one group is not waiting around to find out.

The Arc of Prince George's County, which serves more than 100 Bowie families that have at least one family member living with a developmental disability, is forging ahead with a campaign to make lawmakers and the public aware of the repercussions of massive cuts to The Arc's budget.

As of July 1, 2008, more than 18,000 Marylanders were...