I am making this blog for the State of Maine legistors to get an idea of what a family with a special needs child or children go through on a daily basis in the State of Maine. I do not claim that I am the end all be all of families with special needs among them. In fact I consider myself to be lucky compared to other families I know. Some of whom can't get the help I have and desperately need it due to what I call " The stupid regulations which constitute who can get help/assistance and for exactly how long -- which is seldom long enough". I am doing this for us all of us the rich and the poor and the struggling middle(who can't ever get a break).
So introductions/background about my family and self:
I am a 36 year old stay at home mom. I chose to stay at home because of the lack of adequate childcare and cost. I have been working up until 3 years ago. I am capable of working and intend to start again when the new school year starts.
My husband is 38 years old and works full time. He commutes an hour and half both ways. He is also a volunteer fireman in our very small town and is planning on coaching AYS (area youth sports) t-ball this summer.
I have 2 beautiful girls. Olivia is 8 soon to be 9 in July. Abigail is our baby turns 5 this month.
They go to public school. They both love school.
When Olivia was 7 we finally received a diagnosis that she was mild to moderately mentally retarded.
It took Seven years to get this diagnosis because our family doctor kept telling us she was to young for testing. We still kept asking. My husband and I thought she had ADHD. She had all the symptom's. We knew she was delayed we knew there was more wrong then anyone -- CDS, schools or doctors would tell us. It wasn't until we moved into this small town and found a pediatrician did we get a referral to go to Edmund N. Ervin pediatric Center in Waterville.
From that diagnosis we were able to get the help that we needed. And for those of you keeping score at that time we had full health insurance through my husband's job.
My husband had to switch jobs for health and sanity reasons. And we are unable to afford the health plan his company offers. It would cost over $200 every other week. Which means we'd have no water/sewer and electrity. (no need to add the ever increasing oil and gas prices) Sorry if I like having well fed and clean children. Hey, call me crazy. Which means yes, we all receive Mainecare.
On the insurance front I must add Olivia has insurance thru her natural father. So, she is not just sucking up Mainecare funds.
Believe me if we could afford we would have it. I took me years to try to apply for food stamps back when my husband was bringing home only $140 a week. and I was bringing home that every other week (this was before the Abigail was born and we still made to much money!!!).
ahhh, good times.
Yes, I am sarcastic. I was born that way. Much like Olivia was born with MR.
So, this is the start, I hope it helps this cause which means so much to me. I haven't felt the urge to speak up about anything till recently after speaking in front of the house in Augusta this past March where I felt inadequate and so much less eloquent then others and unable to get everything I felt and feared across in a way that would affect anyone.
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