Argentina freezes disability therapy funding, centers shut

In Moreno, Argentina, specialized therapy programs that serve millions of people with disabilities are facing severe strain as the government of President Javier Milei has frozen payments to the organizations that provide them. The funding halt, part of broader austerity measures, has forced centers to cut services, reduce staff, and, in some cases, close entirely, leaving participants without critical routines and support.

For Analía Celis, a 34-year-old with cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability, the suspension of bus service by her local day center, the nonprofit Andar, means she can no longer attend. The center stopped the transportation two months ago due to financial pressure. Her mother, Clementina Tabares, says Celis now spends days in bed, agitated and withdrawn, a regression therapists warn is common when structured programming disappears. Andar’s legal representative, Martín Lucero, stated the organization has been forced to sell assets to operate, calling the situation a political choice.

Argentina’s network of disability service providers operates primarily on reimbursements from state-run insurance programs. Providers report that irregular payments became a...