"For the past 30 years, children younger than 3 with disabilities, their families and the professionals who work on their behalf have seen firsthand the benefits of early intervention. Early intervention is the process of providing therapies and education to babies at risk for disability because of premature birth, autism, drug exposure or other high-risk factors. Early intervention services have been instrumental in reducing special education costs."
In July 2009, the California Legislature signed into law provisions that eliminated early intervention services for babies at risk and raised the eligibility criteria for children with delayed development from 33 percent to 50 percent. The long-term negative fallout from this decision is unimaginable.
The number of children entering the school system at age 3 with significant, though preventable, disabilities will be detrimental to special education and health-care budgets. The cost to taxpayers for long-term care for these children will be astronomical.