(TRENTON) — Assemblywoman Joan M. Voss, Ed.D., issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the increased early intervention copayment requirement in Gov. Christie’s FY 2011 Budget:
“Early intervention services are designed to address a problem or delay in a child’s development as early as possible so that they can maximize their potential later in life.
“These services are a lifeline to families struggling to understand what is wrong with their child and, had I known about them when I was raising my son, they might have helped us diagnose his Asperger’s sooner.
“For the governor and Republicans to increase the copayments on these services to help balance the budget is callous, borderline heartless, behavior that will likely prevent families on the financial brink from seeking the critical services that will help their children become productive members of society.
“This is nothing more than a tax on families with developmentally disabled children, and I am disgusted that Republicans and Governor Christie insisted it remain in the budget.”
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