Protect Access to Early Intervention Services

As part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Early Intervention (EI) program provides evaluations and services to infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Early Intervention is cost effective and helps infants and toddlers at the time when services can make the biggest difference.

Governor Cuomo’s 2013-2014 Executive Budget proposal would restructure Early Intervention, linking EI services with health insurance coverage. The budget proposal would:

• Allow a health insurance representative to be part of the team that develops and reviews a child’s Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP), giving the health insurance company a voice in determining a child’s EI services for the first time.
• Require EI providers to join health insurance networks, negotiate their reimbursement rates with health insurers, and exhaust all appeals of claim denials by health insurers before being paid by EI, likely leading to a further reduction in the number of experienced EI providers available to serve children.
• Require children to be evaluated and served by evaluators and service providers within the children’s health insurance network, without a clear process for obtaining an exception for children who need specialized service providers. 

For more information contact Randi Levine at RLevine@advocatesforchildren.org

New Workshop for Parents of Toddlers with Speech Delays

The NY City Council Autism Initiative at SINERGIA is holding a workshop entitled “Helping Mothers to Promote Their Child’s Communication Through Play,” on Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009 from 10am to 12noon.
This Parent-Child Center workshop seeks to inform parents of the possibility of transforming playtime into an opportunity to support children with language delays, at risk of developing autism, and/or children already diagnosed with pdd/autism, to develop their communication and social abilities.

►Does your child take an interest in other children?

►Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something?

►Does your child ever bring objects over to you (parent) to show you something?

►Does your child ever imitate you (e.g. you make a face and your child imitates it?)

►Does your child respond to his/her name when you call?

►If you point at a toy across the room, does your child look at it?

If you answered "no" to several of these questions, you will benefit from the information provided in our workshop.


Date & Time:  Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 10AM – 12Noon

Place:  Sinergia, 134 West 29 St., 4th Floor, between 6th and 7th Avenues

Transportation:  Subways # 1, N, Q, R, to 28th or 34th Streets

Contact: Call Gina Peña-Campodónico to confirm your attendance at 212-643-2840 x 305

Made possible with funds from The New York City Council.

Note: If you are interested, you may be eligible to participate in a in free Hunter College’s Communication and Play Lab Early Intervention study for parents with 16- to 30-month old children, using playtime to encourage a child's development. It will identify strengths and weaknesses in the the way a child communicates, and determine which techniques work best for the child.

Update: 
The workshop was very successful as evidenced by the large turnout of parents who eagerly participated and had many questions and comments to share.  It was conducted by Michael Siller, Ph.D. an assistant professor of psychology at Hunter College (City University of New York). Dr. Siller studies the development of social and communication skills in young children. He is particularly interested in how parent-child play interactions contribute to the social, emotional, and communication development of young children with autism spectrum disorders. He directs the Communication and Play Lab at Hunter College. For pictures visit our Facebook page.

Help For Parents of Children Entering Preschool

Education Advocacy for Parents of Children with Disabilities - From Birth to Age Three

The Metropolitan Parent Center (MPC) is launching the Early Childhood Program designed to address matters of interest and concern to parents of young children from birth to age three. As a parent you may feel some anxiety if your baby, toddler or preschooler is experiencing developmental or other delays, and may need information and support. The MPC Early Childhood program is designed to help make sense of these concerns, and support parents in making appropriate decisions about their child’s development and learning.

On October 15, 2009, the MPC will offer a special presentation during the fourth session of our “Education Advocacy Workshop Series” focused around young children that will be entering preschool, a crucial time for decision making about children's services. This session will address what parents need to know and do in order for their child to experience a seamless transition. The workshop is called:

“Transitioning From Early Intervention Services to Preschool”

Please call Godfrey Rivera, Co-director of the Metropolitan Parent Center at (212) 643-2840, ext. 307 or e-mail at grivera at sinergiany.org for further information or to register for the presentation.

Simultaneous interpretation (Spanish-English) is available upon request.

Date: October 15, 2009
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Location: 134 West 29th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Sinergia e-mail: information at sinergiany.org Website: www.sinergiany.org