Editorial: These kids need help from state

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 9:13 a.m.

It is troubling that Gov. Kenny Guinn is proposing budget cuts to the state-run Special Children's Clinics. The clinics, in both Las Vegas and Reno, provide essential diagnostic and treatment services for about 1,600 developmentally disabled children up to age 3. The children may have undergone complicated births caused by a mother's substance abuse or they might have other severe disabilities, such as cerebral palsy or autism.

As the Sun's Steve Kanigher reported Tuesday, Guinn's budget to the Legislature is recommending the elimination of paid college interns, who aid the medical staff. The children's families worry that the staffing reduction will make it difficult for the clinics to continue offering group sessions -- which the interns assist in -- that teach children how to interact with others. The savings to the clinic's budget would be sizable -- more than $800,000 in the nearly $13 million, two-year budget -- but the cuts would be shortsighted.

Las Vegan Denise Clark told the Sun that her 3-year-old autistic son has adjusted to classroom settings with other special-needs children because of his participation in the clinic's group sessions. The sessions prepared him to adjust to his mother's absence while also dealing with the structure of the classroom, according to Clark. "It has done miracles," Clark said. "But without those interns there won't be group sessions. The staff will have to take the kids one on one, and they will not be ready for the school system." The Las Vegas clinic's manager, Karen Cummings, said she'll find other ways to serve the children, but it would be terrible to curtail the group sessions.

Children with developmental disabilities have a tough enough time as it is. Government should lend a hand to developmentally disabled children so that they will be prepared to enter school and, after they receive a degree, enter the work force. Children shouldn't be left behind simply because they start life with a severe disability.

Overall, Guinn's budget has received well-deserved plaudits for its commitment to expanding social services for Nevadans who are disabled or are needy. In that light, Guinn and the Legislature should reconsider the cuts to the Special Children's Clinics, and find the money to ensure that the clinics continue to offer a quality program.