Apoligies...

I am sorry I seem to have been out of touch for a while, but things have been quiet, at least I haven't heard much, and we just moved to a new home. My son has aged out of the early intervention system, he just turned 3, and is now in a developmental program in the school system, so my guess someone probably took us of the mailing list on his 3rd birthday, so I'm not too sure if I would hear anything.

I have noticed on other sites that they are going to implement a team approach for services going forward, which I do believe is a good thing, increased communication is always a good thing, streamlining and becoming more efficient and making sure everyone is on the same page is a good thing too. I wish we could get a first hand experience as to how it works, someone will have to keep me posted.

Be aware anytime a new programs starts like this there will initially be confusion, that is just par for the course, change no matter how positive is always met with some resistance, it will take some getting used to.

Has there been any word on the cost participation? I haven't heard, if not implemented soon, my guess would be our local politicians will be hesitant to push it with elections coming up, I think the last thing they would want would be for one of us to show up on their opponents commercials discussing it, but logic always seems to evade me when it comes to our politicians in AZ.

Too Quiet...

I haven't recieved any info on the cost participation delay or "planned" implementation, not a peep of it on the website at DES either, I called and the person that answered at AZEIP could not tell me either, but offered to put me into a voicemail because everyone was in a meeting, I didn't get a chance to leave one because I had another call come in. So for now we wait. I have not had any written correspondence as of late either, so I have no idea if we would potentially have to pay for any services if we recieve them this month, I would hope not since we never got a statement detailing what our costs would be, if they try to charge without having sent one I can tell you they will definetly have another fight on their hands!

Another rant: I am sick and tired of hearing that the state is out of money, and they cannot afford things, I'm not hearing that when talking about immigration, they seemed to have found lots of extra dollars somewhere since they intend to spend them either enforcing this new unpopular bill or fighting lawsuits in regards to them, no problem, I haven't heard anyone say that they will drop it if they cannot fund the implementation of it.

They need to fund their existing commitments first before they start spending money that they supposedly don't have.

Please remember this on election day and VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!

March of Dimes March for Babies Walk: This Saturday April 17

I'm sorry I didn't post this earlier, but the March of Dimes walk March for Babies is tommorow at 8 AM in Wesley Bolin Plaza, the link to more info is below.


http://www.marchofdimes.com/arizona/

Public Comment Needed

Alas, again the state is asking for public comment on their application for federal funds in 2010. This also includes comments for their Family Cost Participation Program proposal. I have not had a chance to read through it as of yet, once I do, I will have some comments!

The info is posted on the AZEIP website here is the link:

https://www.azdes.gov/main.aspx?menu=98&id=5354

Is it Me or Does Jan Brewer Have Something Against Children?

Maybe, maybe not, but it looks like it sometimes! Look at all the cuts she has pushed, they for the most part negatively impact children one way or another, whether it be attempting to illegally cut services for disabled children, cuts to Child Protective Services, cuts to KidsCare, or childcare cuts, it appears that way, I thought maybe it was just me.

Then I read another article yesterday.

Apparently, she has signed a bill that allows someone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon into a park. A PARK! When you hear the word park, what images come into your mind? CHILDREN PLAYING! I sure it is a weird coincedence. Why would anyone need or want to carry a gun to a park? Don't get me wrong, I am not anti-gun, in fact at one time I used to hold a concealed permit myself (I let it lapse, another story for another day), but I for the life of me never ever would have thought of bringing it with me to a PARK! What for? What need could one possibly have for a gun at a place where there are most likely children playing or at least present somewhere? Why on earth would you want to be able to bring a firearm anywhere near a child?

Then there is the question about after dark, but don't parks close, especially with all of these budget cuts going down? There are not too many legitmate reasons for going to a park after dark that I can think of, maybe it is just me and my rant for the day.

The Hearing....

I had my due process hearing yesterday by phone, it was sort of anti-climatic. The judge just went through the paperwork and made sure everyone had a copy of everything and had read everything, he also went over the main points that we wanted to address to make sure he had them right, and asked if we had additional comments.

The state rep repeatedly stated that they felt that they could not "guarantee" that my son's services would stay in place after June 2010, and that they didn't want to write a letter, one because they were sure lots of other parents would like to have letters, and they didn't feel they could provide me with the assurances that I needed.

Funny, I don't recall asking for a guarantee of any kind, I never used that word, and well, lets face it, all I am really asking for is for the state to follow federal laws and guidelines, it is odd that they cannot guarantee they are going to follow laws and rules. Just because they cannot predict the Legislature, who by the way would get sued again if they passed anything that prevented laws and rules from being followed.

I wish I could have pointed that out at the time, it of course didn't occur to me until after the fact.

I did tell the judge that I felt I was entitled to written communication no matter what the content, and that is what I really have been asking for.

I also reiterated that I did not expect the judge to direct the Legislature, but I did feel that the Judge should be able to read the rules, laws and regulations, evaluate what the state has done thus far, and determine if the state is in compliance with those rules and regulations, and if they are not, order them to become compliant and let them figure out how to do it.

The state mentioned that they feel no civil rights were violated because services didn't stop, I wish I had thought faster on my feet and commented to them that is for the judge to decide, not them.

It also occured to me that I should have brought up the fact my son is on AHCCCS because of SSI and recieves federal dollars regarless of what the legislature does.

The judge stated that he will take everything into consideration, and write a ruling that will be mailed out, and at that time we have the right to appeal.

So to sum it up, try to make sure you have everything you want to say submitted in writing ahead of time, if you forget anything they will at least have the documentation, or write you what you want to say and say it.

Raising Special Kids Event-March 27th

There is going to be a HUGE event for Raising Special Kids, we went last year and had a lot of fun! Details are below:

Special Day for Special Kids
Sponsored by
Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary Club
Phoenix El Puente Rotary
Scottsdale Unified School District Learning Classes
Raising Special Kids

Saturday, March 27, 2010
10am – 2 pm
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale

Register on the day of the event
Questions? Contact Dan McAuliffe 480-315-5216
or Al Chaves (En Espanol) 480-221-7259

Directions:
McCormick - Stillman Railroad Park is located at
the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and Indian
Bend Road, 1.7 miles west of the 101 Loop, exit
Indian Bend. Our address is 7301 E. Indian Bend
Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250

Direciones:
McCormick - Stillman Railroad Park esta localizado
en la esquina sur este de Scottsdale Road y Indian
Bend Road, 1.7 milas al oeste de la autopista 101
Loop, salida Indian Bend Rd. La Direcion es 7301 E.
Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85250