A Bridgeport teacher says he could be forced to quit his job after being cut from a program that provides help to disabled workers like him.

Milford resident Tom Wade, 60, has been a social studies teacher at Central High School in Bridgeport for about 30 years.

Wade has been a quadriplegic ever since he suffered a spinal cord injury in 1973. 
"I love working with the kids, I love to see the change from September to June," he says.

After 20 years, Wade was suddenly cut from a program called Medicaid for the Employed Disabled, which pays an assistant to help Wade get ready for work.

Wade says he is totally dependent on others for many things and without that few hours of help a day, he would have to quit his job. 

"I get very anxious and I worry about what's coming next," he says.

Officials say the state budget crisis and a cut in federal social service funding have put Wade in the situation he is in.

His longtime friend, Lisa Stefanko, says it makes no sense to cut the funding that allows Wade to be a contributing member of society. 

"It breaks my heart terribly," she says.

Wade says he has appealed the decision to the Department of Social Services and will soon be granted a hearing.

The Department of Social Services did not respond to News 12's request for comment.