PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Esther Lebowitz, Parent of a Child with Special Needs
6:33:41
ยท
3 min
Esther Lebowitz, a parent of a 6-year-old child with hydrocephalus and a brain and spinal cord tumor, testified about the challenges in obtaining a mandated health paraprofessional for her daughter who recently entered mainstream education. She highlighted the difficulties in finding a health para due to low DOE pay rates and delays in processing enhanced rate requests through the ARIS unit.
- Lebowitz's daughter requires a health para to attend school, but the family had to hire one at their own expense due to DOE's inability to provide one at the set rate of $20/hour.
- The family applied for an enhanced rate through ARIS in September, but after 4 months, they are still waiting for a resolution despite submitting all required documentation.
- Lebowitz appealed to the council members to address the DOE's failure to provide this critical service, speaking on behalf of many parents in similar situations.
Esther Lebowitz
6:33:41
Thank you.
6:33:42
Good afternoon, chair Joseph, distinguished committee members, and council members.
6:33:46
My name is Esther Lobowicz.
6:33:47
My daughter, who is now 6 years old, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and brain and spinal cord tumor at 9 months of age.
6:33:55
Thank god after intensive treatment and complicated medical regimens, tumors present but now growing but not growing.
6:34:03
However, it left its imprints on on Adi, impacting her physical health, her mobility, concentration, cognitive abilities.
6:34:10
Unfortunately, everything is a struggle.
6:34:14
My daughter attended a special ed preschool to accommodate her unique medical needs.
6:34:19
She related when despite her intensive health condition, she was able to mainstream this past September, and she entered the pure one a.
6:34:27
The school only accepted her with the support of a health para.
6:34:31
We had an IEP meeting in July 24 whereby range of services were recommended with a health para of most significance.
6:34:39
It tends to our personal needs and safety.
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We were overwhelmed with gratitude and anticipation that the that the transition will help her grow, develop, and flourish.
6:34:47
At the same time, we're extremely distressed because we were unable to retain the health power for for our child.
6:34:54
We were searching for providers in the last year, June, with no success.
6:34:59
The DOE rate for health power is set for $20 an hour.
6:35:02
It's intensive and difficult work and demands skill and patience.
6:35:06
It demands skill and patience.
6:35:08
We served but couldn't find anyone for that rate.
6:35:11
Even more so, the DOE referred our case to a medical staffing agency that was unable to recruit and provide for the DOE rate and returned the case back to DOE.
6:35:21
We were relieved that when the DOE created the ARRIS unit.
6:35:25
We specifically addressed this need.
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The child can't function or attend school without this crucial service that is on her mandate, and the DOE is required to provide it for her.
6:35:36
We had no choice and hire our power on our own expense, which was above our financial capabilities, and our wonderful family of friends seem to have to assist.
6:35:46
We applied for ARIS for the enhanced rate for the health power in the weakening of September.
6:35:51
We're informed that the process will conclude within 60 days.
6:35:54
This was reassuring to us as we're struggling immensely to cover this cost, which add an immense stress on top of the medical challenges we have to deal with.
6:36:02
It is now more than 4 months since we applied to ARRIS.
6:36:05
The request of proof of my timely PNI, which I submitted several times through the process, it was submitted 2 days after the DOE requested it.
6:36:13
Just a just to note, the PNI is actually waived in the case of a health appara.
6:36:18
Nonetheless, DOE requested it several times, and we submitted it.
6:36:22
As a mom of special needs child, and I speak on behalf of 100 of parents in the same situation, I beg you, distinguished council members, please realize that DOE is not providing this critical service and has annoyed our sick children with opportunity to have semblance of normal life next to their medical condition, which they unfortunately have to handle every minute of their young lives.
6:36:41
We beg you to demand that that it's
Eric Dinowitz
6:36:43
Thank you.
6:36:43
Your time's expired.
Esther Lebowitz
6:36:45
And give our what?
6:36:49
Thank you so much.