More than 1,000 advocates for the developmentally disabled are rallying at the Kansas Statehouse to urge officials to maintain the current system for providing services.

Many of those gathered Wednesday wrote messages on a 65-foot canvass banner addressed to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. They argue that folding services for the developmentally disabled into the state’s KanCare Medicaid system will hurt families, clients and care givers.

The state began the KanCare system in January for most medical services for the poor and disabled, except those with developmental disabilities. That is supposed to change in 2014 when the services would be provided through three private health insurance companies that operate the KanCare system.