NEWBURYPORT — Local advocates for disability services are bracing for extensive budget cuts that they say will devastate the services they can now provide.

Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed cuts to disability in order to balance the multi-million dollar budget gap. The cuts would affect long-term disability services, including day habilitation services such as those offered by Opportunity Works in Newburyport, adult dental care, personal care attendants, adult foster care and podiatry.

Last week, representatives from Massachusetts ARC met with Patrick in an informational meeting to spell out what the proposed cuts would mean to them.

"These cuts would be devastating and not sustainable," Leo Sarkissian of ARC said. "These are tough times in Massachusetts, but we really believe you can't solve the program only with cuts."

Sarkissian credited Patrick's willingness to sit down with him and other advocates and listen to what the impacts of cuts to disability services and mental health would be.

Under the proposed cuts, day programs such as Opportunity Works would potentially be cut by one hour per day.

"We tried to explain that yes, it's just an hour, but in fact those who live with families, they too are affected by the recession and they will have to make new arrangements and risk losing their jobs," Sarkissian said.

Sarkissian also pointed to the impacts in staff reduction and the loss of clinical services that many rely on during the day.

"It is not just an hour when you realize the impacts it has on people," he said.

Executive Director Jane Harris-Fale of Opportunity Works met with MassHealth officials last Tuesday along with the chairman of the state's day habilitation coalition in an effort to better understand what the cuts would mean for her organization.

Opportunity Works has been in Newburyport since 1974 and serves 170 individuals throughout 22 communities.

"We want to address the proposed cuts to our day habilitation program and the impact it would have on services to individuals with disabilities, many of which are served at Opportunity Works," Harris-Fale said. "These proposed plans include reducing rates of reimbursements to 2008 levels as well as reducing hours of service."

Harris-Fale said she is awaiting further details over how the plan will be implemented if it were to go through.

"I'm expecting further discussion to see how it plays out," she said. "With this kind of rollback in rates and service, it is not just a huge budgetary impact, but it will create a ripple effect for residential providers and transportation services. It doesn't appear to be practical."

Sarkissian also detailed a 70 percent cut to residential care, cuts to personal care attendants who are often relied upon to help those with disabilities bathe or food shop during the week.

Last week Patrick met with 300 stakeholders to discuss the proposed cuts.

Following the conclusion of the summit, the governor renewed his call for the Legislature to grant him expanded 9C authority.

"I appreciate that the Legislature has sent me parts of the supplemental budget bill, but I am again urging legislators to come back into session and approve the expanded 9C authority I need to manage this budget crisis effectively," Patrick said. "'Effectively' means in a way that protects funds for schools, for cities and towns, for services that help the most vulnerable, and that shares the sacrifices necessary to do so."

Patrick said in the absence of those tools, he is directing his administration to develop a plan to cut $120 million more from spending, a move that will likely affect those we most need to protect, he said.

"I hope we don't have to implement such a plan, but in the absence of legislative action (this) week, we have no choice but to prepare," Patrick said.

For now, Sarkissian said it is a wait-and-see game, though he is confident Patrick did hear their case.

"There is no question there will be cuts," he said. "We can just hope for some stepping back."

The latest cuts come on the heels of a $45 million cut to the Department of Developmental Services.

Last week Rep. Mike Costello, D-Newburyport, voiced concern over the cuts that are crippling services throughout the state.

"Clearly we are all concerned about further cuts," Costello said, noting 9C cuts have threatened mental health, disability services and public safety, among other areas. "We need to find another $160 million in cuts."

Rep. Harriett Stanley, D-West Newbury, said while it is unfortunate disability services are now next up to be cut, the budget gap has to be closed.

"Unfortunately, people are now feeling cuts who have been protected in the past," she said.

Stanley attended an event last week at the Merrimac Senior Center at which she was asked about cuts to disability services by nurses. "I said if I vote to fund these services, I will be voting for something there is no money for. We can't spend what we don't have."