PLEASE VOTE NO to the Governor’s proposed changes to the Early Intervention Program! The Early Intervention Program delivers essential developmental services to children ages birth to 3 who have developmental delays and disorders. Early Intervention services help children to overcome their disabilities, develop cognitive, social, behavioral, communication, motor and academic skills. Research demonstrates that children who receive Early Intervention services are more successful in learning, behaving, making progress in school, staying in school, getting jobs and are less likely to turn to delinquency and crime. The Early Intervention Program is cost effective: For every dollar spent on the program there is an additional dollar benefit to society of $1.80 to $17.00 (Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise. Karoly, L, Kilburn, M , Cannon J. MG-341 – PCN, 2005.) The proposed changes in the Governor’s budget proposal for Early Intervention include accessing health insurance for paying providers and taking the cost of the program from the County and making the school districts bear the burden of the cost. The proposed changes to Early Intervention will cause serious delays in reimbursing agencies and paying therapists, cause agencies to stop providing Early Intervention services, cause agencies to close, force experienced providers to leave NY State, cause increases in health insurance costs, cause eventual increases in school taxes. Disabled children will be left without critical and timely services that can change their lives for the better: for them, for their families and for all of society! __________________ Name Address