Story and photos by JENNIFER BISHOP

Amid widespread budget cuts, Maryland has done well by one program – the Maryland Infants & Toddlers Program (MITP). The program provides early intervention services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies to infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays, as well as counseling and training for their families.

Last night, a reception was held by the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) at Loew’s Hotel in Annapolis to thank many state officials for supporting MITP. Among the officials present and honored were Governor Martin O’Malley, State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr., Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch (honored but not present), and State Senator Nancy King. Also recognized were former Senator Paula Hollinger, and Delegate Sheila Hixson.

Addressing a buoyant crowd of 270 people, mostly providers and families, O’Malley pointed out that in 2002, the state kicked in only 2% of the MITP budget. As of 2009, the state’s support has grown to 15%. “It’s rare to stand up in front of people to give good budgetary news,” he said. “Our greatest ambition is to be a state who believes in the dignity of every individual.”

The success of MITP depends upon a matrix of people. MITP is an interagency collaborative program supported by several state and local agencies and mandated by federal and state laws. In Maryland, the State Department of Education is the lead agency, which means that the MIPT budget is developed by the State Superintendent as part of the education budget, and then presented to the Board of Education, and eventually the Governor, for approval.

MITP is one program that both O’Malley and Grasmick have supported.

Funding is critical at the local level too. Local county administrators must develop local budgets to support their own programs (ITPs).

All of the honorees have used their positions and political influence to fight for increased funding, and the cumulative result of their efforts shows in an increase in the FY2009 state budget of $4.6 million, and by the fact they staved off cuts this year.

According to Department of Education statistics, during this year alone, MITP supported local programs serving nearly 14,000 infants and toddlers (age birth to three) with developmental issues such as speech delays, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Autism. There has been a 50% increase in the numbers of children receiving early intervention services since 2003, and numbers are expected to continue to rise.

Early intervention matters to children and their families. The state’s statistics show that a third of the children exiting their local ITPs were able to go on to school, without need for additional special education. Those who continue to need special education are more able to reach their potential for having had an early start. About 88% of children exiting ITPs made as much (or more) progress with social-emotional development as their typically developing peers.

According to MITP surveys, 86% of families report that early intervention services helped their child develop and learn.

At the reception, Grasmick put education in perspective, noting that  “a child who doesn’t miss a single day of school will spend 8% of their life under our care.” She pointed out that a child’s greatest resource is his family.

My own son learned to eat, walk, and sign basic wants, thanks to my local ITP. I will never forget the support those dedicated therapists and educators provided our family at a time when we were just discovering we were inadequate to meet his needs by ourselves. Like thousands of other families, I’m grateful to the network of caring officials who have worked hard to keep this program adequately funded, no small feat in hard financial times. The protection of MITP seems like a small, brilliant umbrella in the storm.

I also can’t forget that these babies and toddlers grow up quickly, and for many of them, their needs are no less urgent as older children and adults. We must work together to ensure that they can live safe lives in our communities. When the Department of Education is finished with them, and even much sooner than that, the quality of their lives depends upon funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s Community Services.

“Our work is never done,” O’Malley said. “I hope to do something about those waiting lists.”