Press Releases

Early Intervention Services At Bornhava Rely On Medicaid And Department Of Education's Office Of Special Education Programs

With Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Already Too Low, New Cuts Threaten To Pull The Rug Out From Families

AMHERST, N.Y. - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) stood today with parents, early intervention providers, and advocates to sound the alarm on the risk that enacted Medicaid cuts and illegal Department of Education firings pose to the ability to continue to provide early intervention services. Standing at Bornhava, where Kennedy worked as an occupational therapist for nearly a decade, he warned that the Big, Ugly Bill’s massive cuts to Medicaid pose an existential threat to the services provided at the school and at other providers across the state and nation. This risk is exacerbated by the illegal layoffs at the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, which oversees billions of dollars of budget funding. According to public reports, employment levels at the Office of Special Education Programs may go into the single digits if the firings are allowed to continue. As of last week, the firings have been temporarily halted by a federal court. Rather than focus on working with Democrats to stop the government shutdown and cancel the cuts, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have chosen instead to punish the most vulnerable in our community by engaging in illegal firings.

“Bornhava and other early intervention providers change lives for the better every single day, helping children to live up to their fullest potential, and giving families the peace of mind knowing that their young ones are receiving the care they need and deserve to thrive,” said Congressman Kennedy. “I’ve seen it firsthand, working for nearly a decade at Bornhava as an occupational therapist. The children here aren’t a line item or a place to find budget savings - they are our future, and these cuts are robbing both them and our entire community of a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow by stripping away crucial resources and support they desperately need to succeed. It’s time to cancel the cuts, protect our kids, and make life more affordable for all working class families.”

"The proposed Medicaid cuts are not just financial—they are a direct threat to the lives and futures of our most vulnerable children, including those here at Bornhava,” said Dr. Shannon Karcher, Ed.D., Bornhava Executive Director. “Cutting critical early intervention services for children with disabilities creates setbacks with long-term consequences for their learning, growth, and independence. If the federal government steps back from providing adequate oversight and funding, the resulting gap will jeopardize the future prospects of students with disabilities, fundamentally limiting their potential."

“My daughter Claudia received Early Intervention Care and Special Education Services for 18 years—services that were essential to her being able to thrive and lead a meaningful life,” said Tom Rosenecker, President of Claudia’s Club. “She’s now 22, and I shudder to think about the long-term impact program cuts will have on individuals like her and their families.”

“Cuts to Medicaid and Social Security will have long lasting effects on our most vulnerable population,” said Amy Monson, President of Down Syndrome Parents Group of WNY. “Families of all incomes of people with disabilities rely on the support it gives to provide essential services like specialized education, speech, physical, and occupational therapy. These interventions at an early age help people with disabilities to develop to their fullest potential.  Additionally, most adults with disabilities rely solely on Social Security as they are not able to be competitively employed.  The absence of services throughout different stages of life will have negative impacts in the future. This support is essential for people with additional needs at all ages and stages of life.”

"The essential services provided by organizations like Bornhava are not just about education; they are about unlocking potential and building futures,” said Stefanie Mueller, Bornhava Student Parent and Board Member. “My son was born with a rare genetic disorder. But from ages two to five, Bornhava provided him with the crucial support he needed - giving him his legs, his voice, and the confidence to embrace all the joys and challenges of typical children. The recent attempted gutting of the Office of Special Education at the Department of Education is deeply concerning.  These cuts target our community's brightest - but most vulnerable - stars, and as a parent and Bornhava Board Member, I am grateful to Congressman Kennedy for bringing attention to this. I urge our community to unite in the fight to protect these crucial services."

“The Republican Congress’s draconian cuts to Medicaid, along with the administration’s purging of key Department of Education civil servants, will have consequences - and sadly, families and students in our community who rely on early intervention care programs are going to bear the brunt of these destructive policies,” said Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart. “If the federal government refuses to change course, schools like Bonhava will suffer, families will lose access to early intervention care, and students with learning challenges will fall further and further behind in their academics, with grave long-term consequences not only for these students as individuals but for their families and our society as a whole. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Kennedy and our community’s educators to call on the federal government to reverse these cruel cuts and give every student an opportunity to learn, achieve, and thrive.”

The Office of Special Education Programs is a component of the U.S. Department of Education that provides leadership and financial support to states and local districts. Its mission is to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities by administering the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensuring access to a free and appropriate public education. The personnel who are under threat of firing are critical for administering billions in IDEA grants, monitoring state compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), providing technical assistance, and ensuring the civil rights of the nation's 7.5 million students with disabilities are protected.

Medicaid is a critical funding source for Early Intervention (EI) services under IDEA Part C, covering eligible services for infants and toddlers with disabilities who are enrolled in both programs. States leverage Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit and other state Medicaid options to secure federal matching funds, significantly offsetting the cost to state and local Part C programs.

Bornhava is an Early Childhood Center in the Town of Amherst that provides specialized early intervention and preschool programs for children from birth to age five across the region who have developmental disabilities or delays. This center offers a nurturing, play-based environment with a team of special education teachers and therapists to empower children to reach their fullest potential, at no cost to families.

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