February 12th, 2009

In an article describing how the economic recession is causing many states to delay providing care to young children who are showing signs of developmental delays, National Public Radio describes the stories of two families who have run into roadblocks in getting care for their children.  One of the families actually relocated to Pennsylvania and is now receiving state help for their son’s therapy, thanks to our state’s new law requiring insurance companies to pay for the care.

Writes NPR:

Early-intervention programs like Nevada’s were established under federal special education law. States take money from Washington and, in return, promise to provide therapy — and do it right away — for kids up to 3 years old. But there’s a lot of pressure on state programs. More children are being diagnosed with autism, and at earlier ages.

Nevada, a fast-growing state, has had to keep up with more and more kids needing the therapy. Then the recession hit. By the end of December, there were 566 children on the state’s waiting list.

…

There may be some help coming. More money could arrive from Washington. The proposed economic stimulus plan now being debated in Congress includes more money for the federal part of the early-intervention program.

Read more at NPR.