The letter

I am making this as public as I can.  Our family, in specific Eva, or your family, or any family that has a special needs child or a disabled child depends on this change. 

Please, take into consideration how many other families in specifically Indiana you could support.  Our government is setting up our children to fail and this is just unacceptable.  Please make your voice be heard and you could change our future.

If you have been denied services due your family income in your state, speak up!  Find your representative in your district.  Write those letters.  Have your family, friends, or even stranges write letters.  Changes can happen for the better.  I believe that support for our children's future is in the peoples' hands. 

This is the letter that was sent.  Please feel free to copy and change anything necessary to mail. There is also email available.  It is on the link provided. 
Thank you in advance for your support. 

http://www.in.gov/legislative/senate_republicans/5315.htm

Senator Pete Miller, District 24
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Senator Miller,

I am writing you on behalf of my family and especially my youngest daughter, Eva.   The only way to explain this letter of intent is to go back to June, 2010. 

Eva was turning one and our parental concerns of her developmental, physical, and social delays were very strong.  We did get approved for her being into the First Steps Program which is geared towards children with delays and is funded state therapy sessions.   Through many illnesses, hospitalizations, and a diagnosis of a rare chromosome disorder, we continued to implement as many interventions for her as time and our finances could possibly maintain.  We decided to look into a supplemental insurance for her that would benefit children with special needs.  We found a program called Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS).

After a six month application process finally resulting to an approval, she was receiving secondary health insurance through CSHCS.  This was a blessing.  Our extra income was no longer being spent on the burden of health care expenses for our child with a disability.

As a family who receive CSHCS, we are required to complete the annual reapplication.  I did just this in November.  To my surprise, we were denied services do to financial ineligibility.  Senator, my concern is this.  We are a family household of six.  We provide everything that we can for our children, teach them the value of education, respect for ourselves and to others, and most of all, treat others how you would expect to be treated.    Now, when my children ask why Eva cannot receive any additional services after she turns three in June, they will then wonder why she possibly still not talking or making those milestone physical improvements that private therapists can assist her with. 

I feel that because we are hardworking citizens and our income is just above the maximum allowed for CSHCS (which is 250% above poverty level), Eva, my special needs daughter , will not be able to have the interventions that she so rightfully deserves.  Since she was born, we knew that she would not get the same experiences as our other children would have.  We know that her life expectations will be less than the others.  But now, we found out that the Indiana State Department of Health is routing her on to fail!  This is just inacceptable.

Senator, there is no reason why Children’s Special Health Care Services has an income barrier.  All disabled or special needs children have that right to get the assistance they deserve from medically trained professionals on an as need basis.  States such as New York and Connecticut have such programs that have as needed services for all children, no income restrictions, just simply much needed interventions.   

Please Senator, I am asking for your help.  I am not just asking for my family but for the many other families that have also been denied due to financial ineligibility. This law must be changed.  The children are being victimized because of their parents 1040.  Our children’s future is our families’ future and on this I will not stand down.  Our children are victims, not only to their impairments, but now to our government.   Please help the many families’ in Indiana by getting these policies changed.  Our future depends on it.

Laura Ralph