ALERT: Students with disabilities may be cut-off from speech, PT, OT and other related services

From Paul Marchand:

If the Bush Administration has their way, families of students with disabilities who are Medicaid eligible and who receive IDEA related service through their school systems may be cut-off from their much-needed services, which can include speech, physical and occupational therapies, transportation to health services, tube feeding and other medical interventions.

The Arc of the United States needs your help. Here is how:

1. Help us stop the Bush Administration from gutting these services for students with disabilities. Click here to learn more about this issue and contact the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urging them to restore the funding for this program.

2. Senator Ted Kennedy, a friend of the disability community, will be introducing legislation aimed at correcting this problem. To learn more, click here and contact your Senator, urging him/her to support Senator Kennedy’s bill.

3. Finally, click here to send us personal stories from Medicaid eligible families who have a student(s) with a disability and who receives IDEA-related services. Please emphasize the critical nature of the related services on the child's ability to thrive in school and the devastating impact the elimination of such services would have on the child.

For chapters and affiliates, to help us save this funding, it is vital to reach out to your network of families, distribute this Action Alert broadly and help us gather these stories.

Thanks for your efforts.

For information, resources and practical strategies on autism visit:

www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com

www.AutismConcepts.com