FDDC: Save Early Steps

[Guest guest]

From: Florida Developmental Disabilities Council Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 3:53 PMTo: denisekarp@...Subject: Save Early Steps Having trouble viewing this email? Click here 3. 2. 2011Help Save Early Steps!Friends, Early Steps provides critical early intervention support to Florida's children and families. Now Early Steps is at risk and needs your help. Each year, Early Steps helps thousands of infants and toddlers in Florida achieve critical developmental milestones that start them on a path to independence and success. With federal stimulus money about to expire, Florida's Early Steps program now faces a funding crisis that could jeopardize its future. Make every step count.It's up to Florida's lawmakers to save Early Steps. Let them know what this important program means to you. Sincerely,The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. " Thanks to Early Steps, I know my children will one day be independent, productive, successful citizens. " - H., Seminole, Fla. " When your child is diagnosed with Autism, the first thing you are told is that early intervention is critical. My son missed the Early Steps age cutoff. As a result, we went through a difficult process trying to understand and obtain services. Getting nowhere with private insurance and making too much money to receive government assistance, we ended up paying 100% out of pocket. This put us in a situation where providing for our children's very basic needs, like food and rent, was a hardship. We borrowed from family, lost a vehicle and eventually went bankrupt. We had to discontinue services until we were back at square one: feeling hopeless, completely broke and unable to meet our son's special needs. A year later, my daughter was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This time around, our cloud had a shimmering, silver lining: she was eligible for Early Steps services. Read more Learn More About Early StepsAbout the Funding Crisis How Can You Help? Contact Your LegislatorsShare Your StoryMap Your Support Stay Connected Become an advocate on Facebook and Twitter! Let's Link Up Have a website or blog? Help us raise awareness by displaying the Save Early Steps web button on your homepage with a clickable link to www.fddc.org/save-early-steps. Sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. Visit FDDC Homepage Forward emailThis email was sent to denisekarp@... by vandab@... | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.Florida Developmental Disabilities Council | 124 Marriott Drive | Suite 203 | Tallahassee | FL | 32301