Nov 25, 2009 10:25 pm US/Central
Thousands Of Children On Verge Of Losing Therapy
State Has Fallen Months Behind In Paying Companies That Treat Kids With Special Needs
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Kevin Christesen, 2, is in danger of losing vital therapy for developmental delays because the state is behind in paying its bill.
CBS
Thousands of children with special needs are on the verge of losing vital therapy, and parents are telling CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini how they are losing hope because the state isn't paying its bill.
Kevin Christesen, 2, needs therapy. A team of therapists work with his developmental delays weekly. They are paid by the state.
Kevin's mother Kim says he's about to lose his therapy because the state has fallen months behind in paying the bill.
She says Kevin was unable to talk at all, or even eat food on his own until he started getting the state-funded therapy. He's come a long way.
As he sat on his mother's lap, she asked him, "How old are you?"
"Two," he answered.
But now, because the state is in such financial turmoil, services like Kevin's are in jeopardy; especially since the state is months behind in paying the companies that treat Kevin and 19,000 other children in the Illinois Early Intervention Program.
Kim Christesen said she feels like the state is failing her and wants Illinois residents to know what's happening.
Besides families, therapists are also affected. Therapist Melissa Piquette asks, "Who would go to work and not get a paycheck for three months?"
Piquette is just one of the hundreds of therapists that may have to quit or find new jobs because the companies they work for can't stay afloat. Her boss, Stacy Calcagnino, understands her struggle.
"As an employer, it makes me feel really bad," Calcagnino said.
Calcagnino runs Hand in Hand Therapies. Her company employs Piquette, and provides treatment for Kevin and 80 other children with special needs, autism and Down syndrome.
"The fact that they're going to miss out and lose something that they really need because the state can't get it together, it's just very hurtful and very devastating," Calcagnino said.
The 2 Investigators have found the state currently owes early intervention providers nearly $17 million.
Kim Christesen worries Kevin will fall behind.
"My goal, as a parent, is for him to be able to go off to kindergarten, and get on the bus and say, 'bye, bye, momma,'" she said.
Kevin is scheduled to lose his therapy this week.
A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Human Services says they are aware of the situation and are exhausting all potential avenues in order to continue to provide essential services to citizens. The department says there are problems with cash flow and it's trying to cut expenses and raise revenue in order to make good on all their obligations.
Owners like Stacey Calcagnino say they've maxed out all their lines of credit and are a day away from going under.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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