Ryan Maloney likes to share his passion for disability rights.
It's a subject close to his heart.
Maloney, 25, lives with cerebral palsy.
But that doesn't stop him from working and advocating for others.
"There are families and people like Ryan, who have challenges and disabilities, that depend so much on agencies similar to Stone-Hayes," said Carol Maloney, Ryan's mom.
The Stone-Hayes Center for Independent Living has helped Ryan over the past seven years.
It serves 150 consumers over a three-county area with its six-person staff.
But since more than one-third of its funding comes from the state, it must brace for budget cuts.
"We can't go forward right now," said Executive Director Vanya Peterson. "We're in a neutral position where we're not sure what's going to happen."
There's uncertainty among agencies as Governor Bruce Rauner readies to deliver his budget address on Wednesday.
There's a good reason for concern. Illinois faces a whopping $6.8 billion deficit.
Those worries reach from this agency to consumers like Ryan. Worries that state cuts will hurt families.
From his keyboard, Ryan uses one finger to make words come alive.
"He's hoping that if the cuts are made, that they don't forget how necessary and vital some of these programs are," Carol said.
That determination carries over to save agencies like Stone-Hayes.
"We want to have some purpose in life," Peterson concluded. "That purpose would be removed. I think it's wrong."