Pulses of the Mid-Hudson Valley NY

30/06/2025

19/03/2025

Today is the 1st day of Spring! Join us to receive support navigating through the heartfelt challenges of caring for individuals with Autism. Spring into support 🌱💞

07/03/2025

Attention New York Lawmakers: Oppose the Governor’s Budget Cut of $9.6 Million to Important Services for Children and Adults Enrolled in Medicaid

The Governor’s budget reduces Medicaid spending for Applied Behavior Analysis services by $9.6 million. This cut will lead to a direct reduction in life-changing services that support children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. If the Legislature does not reject this cut, then ABA Medicaid services will be cut by $9.6 million this year and then ABA Medicaid services will be cut by $19 million in 2026.
Although Commercial Insurance has covered ABA since 2012, Medicaid has only covered it since 2021. Due to implementation delays, Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBAs) did not sign up to become providers in the program until 2023. A cut to this program would be devastating to New York families who have waited years to access it.

We need your help! Please send the attached letter to your representatives and urge them to reject this cut. We have written the letter for you, but please add any information about yourself, your family, and how access to ABA impacts your life.

Attention New York Lawmakers: Oppose the Governor’s Budget Cut of $9.6 Million to Important Services for Children and Adults Enrolled in Medicaid The Governor’s budget reduces Medicaid spending for Applied Behavior Analysis services by $9.6 million. This cut will lead to a direct reduction in li...

21/02/2025

I posted this on my page last year on 2/21...

I had to describe Tabitha's autistic masking to a psychologist yesterday and I came up with a pretty efficient analogy. At school Tabitha is beautiful origami. Everybody loves to look at the origami, and marvel at how pleasant it is, but nobody thinks about the complicated processes it took for her to fold that way. They just like to look at the origami and feel pleased with themselves that they are keeping the origami in one piece all day every day.

When she gets home, when she's with me, she knows I can help her unfold. I can open up all the pieces that she's been hiding away all day. And she can just be paper, with no expectations. Just herself.

But what I forgot to tell the psychologist, was that every day the lines get folded over and over, and the lines become creases and then eventually they scar the paper.

The origami may be beautiful but it's hiding all those scars for the sake of everyone else's enjoyment, to make sure that life is pleasant for everyone else, at its own expense. You might unfold the creases one day, but the scars will never go away.

That's what school masking does to my child, and somehow everyone seems to be ok with that. Cos they have that cute, intricate origami all day, they don't need to consider what happens beyond that.

*Edited as it's gone a bit viral and not just friends anymore!*

20/01/2025

Please God help the children.

The student’s family said the standard for when a disabled student can sue for discrimination comes up frequently and should be resolved by the Supreme Cou

18/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19kagnYEbw/

30/12/2024

Sign up now, monthly support groups for Ulster County caregivers begin January 13th!

21/11/2024

More and more students are getting placed on virtual home instruction without access to in-person tutoring or related services. Please fill out this survey if you have a child or work with a child that is in this situation.

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