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SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
The Governor and the New York State Department of Health have proposed changes to New York State regulations to take effect April 1st 2010 which will severely impact the provision of Early Intervention Services to infants and toddlers with delays or disabilities. The proposal will:
Charge Parents a Fee for Early Intervention Services: Historically the EI program has been carried out at no cost to the family. Under the proposed changes, parental fees would be established ranging from $45 (for family incomes 251% of the federal poverty level) to $540 quarterly (for family incomes above 1,001% of the federal poverty level).
Lower Early Intervention Home/Community based rates 10%: Under the proposed change, rates for home-based visits will be cut by 10%. This will result in the loss of qualified and experienced EI providers to treat your child.
Rates for EI providers were set in 1993 and have never been increased – meanwhile expenses have skyrocketed. This has not yet been approved! You have the chance to voice your objections to your legislators and force them to take a stand against these changes so that children with developmental delays get the services they need.
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It’s up to us to protect our children! Your voice needs to be heard! Call for yourself, your neighbors, and members of your community – help our most vulnerable citizens – developmentally delayed children and the families caring for them. These changes will not only affect the type and quality of services that can be provided to the children with special needs but will also add financial burdens for the families.
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Tell Albany it is not OK to balance the budget on our infants and toddlers with disabilities.
This will not save NYS money – Studies show that for every $1.00 spent on therapeutic services for young children the state saves $7.10 in long term costs. (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Call your representatives – Tell them that you are opposed to the cuts proposed to the Early Intervention program that provides vital help to infants & toddlers with delays or disabilities.
Governor David A. Paterson CALL 518-474-8390
NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver CALL 518-455-3791
Senate Conference Leader John Sampson CALL 518-455-2701
NYS Commissioner of Health, Richard Daines, M.D. 518-474-2011
NYS Senator Carl Kruger (Finance) CALL 718-743-8610 or 518-455-2460
Bureau of Early Intervention (NYS DOH) Director, Brad Hutton CALL 518-473-7016
To locate your local State Legislator, please click on the link below.
Locate your state senator: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm
Locate your state assembly member: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
For additional information please click on the link below:
http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1011/fy1011littlebook/HealthCare.html
http://www.agenciesforchildrenstherapyservices.org/id53.html
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Posted 3/9/10 2:59 PM  |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
I am so disgusted by it.
Saving now will only cost all of us later anyway in medicare, disability, etc... Just adding more stress to families and society financially all the way around.
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| Posted 3/9/10 3:02 PM |
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by smdl
I am so disgusted by it.
Saving now will only cost all of us later anyway in medicare, disability, etc... Just adding more stress to families and society financially all the way around.
don't even get me started  
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| Posted 3/9/10 3:08 PM |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by lipglossjunky73
Under the proposed changes, parental fees would be established ranging from $45 (for family incomes 251% of the federal poverty level) to $540 quarterly (for family incomes above 1,001% of the federal poverty level).
So the poverty level for a family of 3 is $18,310...so for those making an annual income of about $185k pay $540 quarterly ($180 per month). And that is the max. If you make under $45k it is free. After that is starts at $15 per month and up from there.
Just wanted to share that perspective if, in fact, this does go through and I hope it doesn't.
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| Posted 3/9/10 7:19 PM |
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Jackie24
~We Did it~
Member since 7/06 6718 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
I have been emailing the governor and Albany for weeks.
You forgot to mention that they also want to pay paraprofessionals much less to provide ABA rather than SPED Teachers with their Masters and BCBA.
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| Posted 3/9/10 9:01 PM |
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Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
So ridiculous!!! I feel like our tax dollars are not going towards what they are supposed to go towards.
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| Posted 3/9/10 9:07 PM |
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MDF
.
Member since 5/05 2313 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
I was going to post this. I just got this info from ds's special ed teacher. I'm also forwarding it along to everyone I know so they can get involved. It is so upsetting.
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| Posted 3/9/10 9:26 PM |
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Jackie24
~We Did it~
Member since 7/06 6718 total posts
Name:
Jackie
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by jellybean1420
So ridiculous!!! I feel like our tax dollars are not going towards what they are supposed to go towards.
Yeah our tax dollars go to overpaid executives in the MTA.
The agency I work for is devastated. They have been in business for ten years, built from the ground up by a PT, SLP, and a SPED teacher. They employ over 70 people and our active in the field as well as behind the scenes.
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| Posted 3/9/10 9:45 PM |
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by Jackie24
I have been emailing the governor and Albany for weeks.
You forgot to mention that they also want to pay paraprofessionals much less to provide ABA rather than SPED Teachers with their Masters and BCBA.
Yes - this is true - I have sat in on some meetings to contest this but it looks like it might take effect.
BCBA's actually can still be supervisors so they are safer in this than teachers. This is a tragedy
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| Posted 3/9/10 10:20 PM |
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lvdolphins
My Loves!
Member since 5/05 46292 total posts
Name:
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
This is ridiculous!!!
I WILL be emailing and WILL be copying this and emailing it to everyone!
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| Posted 3/9/10 10:56 PM |
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Jacksmommy
My love muffin!
Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Here is a link that sends a generated email to all:
http://www.agenciesforchildrenstherapyservices.org/
Oops . .. I didn't read through the first post. . . Just didn't see the link - but it is there!
Message edited 3/10/2010 6:01:00 AM.
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| Posted 3/10/10 6:00 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
I think my biggest issue aside the money we will have to pay for this, IS the fact that we would have basically people who do not have Masters degree.
Why do I even need EI and "specialists" if they will have basic training. I probably would be just as good.
I am sure if it was done in schools people would have a fit.
Imagine. 1 teacher for several classes. A bunch of assistant doing the work. I am sure people would not go for that.
We praise ourself in NY on our teachers' education. People would be outraged if "subpar" aid would come do the job of a teacher in regular schools.
Why is it OK for EI then?
With all the taxes we pay, we deserve the best. We surely pay for it.
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| Posted 3/10/10 8:21 AM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by smdl
I am so disgusted by it.
Saving now will only cost all of us later anyway in medicare, disability, etc... Just adding more stress to families and society financially all the way around.
I agree
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| Posted 3/10/10 9:46 AM |
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
E-mail sent. The thought of charging for EI makes me sick.
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| Posted 3/10/10 9:18 PM |
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
I sent my email, and going to alert everyone in facebook to do the same!
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| Posted 3/11/10 2:53 PM |
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astroqueen74
Vibrant Health
Member since 1/07 2822 total posts
Name:
Karina
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Email sent and posted on facebook.
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| Posted 3/13/10 9:29 PM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Just emailed and will post to FB.
This would effect quite a few kids at my job and any who would need services in the future!!
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| Posted 3/14/10 3:33 PM |
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ktcmblondie
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 201 total posts
Name:
Kristy
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Sorry I haven't posted quite some time and a really long time to this forum but I'm an EI provider (SLP) who works with children on the spectrum and the rate cuts ( which I've received word are being put into place april 1st definitely) and the idea of aides with little to no training makes me sick. Our tax dollars are going to Albany's big wig salaries and not to the families that need it. What does it say about our society as a whole when we take resources from the most vulnerable!!! I see so much hope and promise of things to be when delayed or at risk children are treated at this age, overcoming so much adversity with the right help and Albany is going to try and take it away piece by piece.
I would love to organize some kind of protest.....
Maybe we should contact ACTS about that.....
I didn't check has anyone posted this on the parenting forum?
Sorry to rant and intrude but I really needed to vent on this issue.
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| Posted 3/18/10 11:48 PM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
how do you post this on facebook??
I would like to put it on mine.
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| Posted 3/19/10 9:39 AM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: SAVE EARLY INTERVENTION
Posted by Jackie24
You forgot to mention that they also want to pay paraprofessionals much less to provide ABA rather than SPED Teachers with their Masters and BCBA.
Personally, this is my biggest problem with it. I only have one DC, and we probably could pay for it if we HAD to. BUT, as Sophie says, why would I want to pay for services if a paraprofessional is doing the work, rather than masters level teachers with lots of experience?
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| Posted 3/19/10 11:03 AM |
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