To the Man Trying to Cut Early Intervention Services for Our Kids (Illinois)
To the Man Trying to Cut Early Intervention Services for Our Kids (Illinois)
I imagine my experience with EI is similar to any other parent with a child who has benefitted from its services. Four years ago I wouldn’t have had much to say about it good or bad, so I can sort of understand the dismissive attitude it seems to have received. However, the therapies, the direction through the loads of federal and state paperwork, and the amazing overall support our family has received from our case worker has left me in awe. Zoey began therapy when she was around six weeks of age, and aged out of EI this month on her 3rd birthday. Within that timeframe Zoey has graduated from a tube-fed infant in the 3rd percentile for weight and height with no guarantees of talking, walking, or eating into a beautiful little girl who is problem solving above her age level, feeding herself full solid meals, running and climbing unassisted, and speaking clear words and sounds with full intonation. She is an incredible learner and I am very stubborn about learning how to have the best options for her, but I know that Zoey would be very different today had we not received the insight and direction from EI. I am all for budgeting and keeping the government responsible for its programs. This one is necessary and needed as a lifeline for families affected by special needs. For those of you with little input until now, please take this to heart. Early Intervention is worth every dollar invested in it and uniquely fulfills a need that no other program can.
I cannot believe someone wants to cut early intervention to save a buck. As my beloved bride points out, without EI, our daughters life would look drastically different, and who knows where our wasted, spent, and broken minds would be.
I AM A CRANIO DAD, I am scared out of my mind and EI means having a running, (nearly) talking, feeding tub free beautiful baby girl that is defying the odds.