Read Preliminary Injunction (short version - 5 pages)

http://azautism.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/preliminary-injunction.pdf

News article: "The human anguish of state's budget cuts"

From an article on azcentral.com

"A cut that eliminated services to developmentally disabled children from birth to age 3 was especially harsh, many said.

"It's just a blatant message: They're not important enough," Garcia said after she received one week's notice that daughter Mariah's therapy services would end.

Although Wednesday's court ruling means the services will continue for now, they're likely to be cut again as lawmakers deal with next year's budget and its deep deficit.

DES officials say they decided to spread the cuts broadly to avoid hitting one area harder than others. Although "gut-wrenching," agency officials said the cuts are necessary to contribute to balancing the state budget.

At the Garcia home in Maricopa, cheers broke out when Mariah, age 15 months, pulled herself up from her blanket into a push-up pose.

"If she's able to bear weight on her arms and legs, it shows she's getting strength," said Trudy Kopas, Mariah's occupational therapist.

Although most children her age are walking by now, Mariah hasn't yet started to crawl.

Yet Kopas said there has been progress. When she met Mariah in August, the baby was four to six months delayed in development for children with Down syndrome. Now, she's only one or two months behind.

Mariah has recently started to hold her baby bottle, another milestone.

If the specialized treatment Mariah gets is eliminated, Garcia said she'll try to do it herself. But it won't be the same.

"They're trained to see things in these kids that we don't see," she said of the therapists who have worked with Mariah.

Her private insurance isn't much help; Garcia said it would pay 42 cents per therapy session; sessions run at least $65 an hour. She and her husband say they could pay out of pocket, but it would make everything else tight on their one-income, two-child budget."

The injunction was excellent news, but keep making those calls & writing those letters!

I could write a post on this, but I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel:

Click here to read the excellent post of Stacy's (local early intervention provider) about the need for families to continue to make noise even though the preliminary injunction was granted yesterday.

COURT CASE MINUTES - from March 11, 2009

Click here to read the 21-page minutes from the case that was filed to block DDD budget cuts!

Good info for families re: finding out about restoration of services

Stacy, a local early intervention provider, has posted a great blog entry for parents and caregivers who are now anxiously waiting to learn more about their loved ones' services being reinstated. Click here to read Stacy's post.

DES news release re: court ruling

Click here to see DES's news release regarding yesterday's court ruling.

News Story about the Preliminary Injunction

http://www.kpho.com/health/18912232/detail.html?taf=pho

Victory!!!

The CEO of the agency that runs that early intervention program I work for has been one of those who testified in the case that was recemtly filed to block DDD cutbacks. This afternoon, I learned that the lawsuit, which was filed by the provider consortium (AAPPD) and families, has been won by the plaintiffs!!

This is very exciting! : )

Although this win will not save the early intervention provider I have worked for almost 11 years (we are closing on April 3, 2009 ... so, so, SO sad ...) it will eventually restore services to the little ones I see who have been facing a complete loss of support services as of this Friday, and that is excellent news!

As of now, it is not known how long it will take to restore services. I was informed that the judge will be making a final ruling this afternoon on the "speedy recovery" that was requested by the plaintiffs and will also put forth a timeline for DDD for the restoration of services.

As I learn any new information about this case, I will post it here, so stay tuned . . .

Also: watch the news tonight - I'm sure it will be covered!