Due to California's budget not passing yet, therapy services are in jeopardy!

[Guest guest]

We received a letter today from the Regional Center telling us that

therapy services may be denied due to the fact that a State budget

for the California 2002-2003 fiscal year has yet to be passed.

Without a budget, the Regional Center has no funding for services for

the developmentally disabled children they serve.

The Governor needs to use his authority to request an emergency

appropriation to continue funding services and supports for people

with developmental disabilities until the budget passes. But will he?

Who knows...... Normally, state budget delays only last a few days,

but this current 45 day delay without a State budget is unusual (and

unacceptable!).

My has severe expressive/receptive language delays, but with

continued therapy, she is improving. Any delay in services for her

could mean a halt to these improvements and cause permanent delays in

her development. The Regional Center has been running on borrow funds

and these funds will be exhausted as of September 15th!!!!! I am so

angry that this budget delay has gone on so long.

I've e-mailed and telephoned both Governor Gray and my local

assembly member's offices. I only hope something will come through in

time for all of the developmentally delayed children in California.

Jill - Mom to 33 months with Hypotonia and speech delays