We are in confusing and complicated times. Advocates focused on early childhood disability services find themselves managing challenges on multiple fronts, from questions about the management and funding structure of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to restrictions to Medicaid access. It can be difficult to know where to focus.
Yet, advocating for young children with disabilities and developmental delays is more important than ever. Without access to high quality Early Intervention and early childhood education, these children can miss out on important opportunities critical to lifelong outcomes. Proposed shifts at the federal level related to IDEA and Medicaid create uncertainty at the state and local levels, which directly impacts the programs and services children with disabilities rely on for healthy growth and development.
State advocates play a critical role in this work. They serve as catalysts to drive transformative change across local Early Intervention and early childhood education systems. By elevating the voices of families, children, educators, and providers, advocates collaborate with key stakeholders to develop meaningful solutions to meet the unique needs of their communities. In times of uncertainty, access to information and supportive networks is necessary to affect system change for children with disabilities and their families. In short: it’s time to come together and be clear about what we know and what’s next.
To support the work of state advocates, Start Early and New America created a fact sheet summarizing recent federal policy actions that impact young children with disabilities and developmental delays and their families, along with resources to guide action at the local, state, and federal levels.
