We face an unprecedented challenge.

One World Karate sits in a unique niche in an underrepresented minority, in a state that largely doesn’t seem to care about them.

Children who need physical, occupational, and other forms of therapy are being denied these essential services because the state has cut funding to an alarming degree.  They are also ineptly handling changing rules and internal system changes involving how the monies are paid, causing many therapy clinics to face almost certain bankruptcy.  The lucky ones will have massive layoffs of therapists and greatly reduce their ability to serve their clients.

The upshot is this:  There are less therapists in less locations accepting less children for therapy while parents have less money and less ability to provide their child with those services anyway.  Only idiots assume this is a good thing, but since the Governor of our state IS apparently an idiot…

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/texas-news/cuts-in-therapy-payments-to-begin-next-month/358902024

In the very near future medical costs associated with poor health and largely preventable illnesses among children who got denied their services will offset any temporary savings many times, costing us all more money in the long run.

So what can we do about it?  Well, first of all, get on the phone and start letting your reps know you’re not OK with this.  Being politically active is no longer a choice, it’s become a necessity.

• Texas Governor
• Information and Referral Hotline [for Texas callers] :(800) 843-5789
• Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline [for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers] :(512) 463-1782
• Office of the Governor Main Switchboard [office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST] :(512) 463-2000
• Citizen’s Assistance Telecommunications Device – If you are using a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), call 711 to reach Relay Texas

But there’s something parents can do in the meantime, as well.  Find physical activities geared towards students with therapy needs.

Hey, Mr. Obvious here, but… that’s us.  It’s also Therapeutic horseback riding, therapeutic swim classes, and other activities.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear:

WE DO NOT OFFER THERAPY TO OUR CLIENTS!

What we DO offer is activities that almost exactly replicate the exercises children do in therapy, but in a framework of our chosen activity – in our case, the whole mind/body activity of Martial Arts.

Let’s be even more plain:  Our staff is made up of an owner who is a special education teacher, two assistant teachers that are a licensed therapist and a licensed PTA, and an assistant that has 4 years experience in the program we offer.  That program is Martial Arts, not therapy.  But I have no problem proclaiming to the world that our school will help your child reach their therapy goals.

So if you are a parent that’s looking at losing some of your child’s therapy to budget cuts and a relatively inhumane state policy, think about alternative activities such as us, swimming, horseback riding, etc. that will help your child get strong, stay strong, and live a healthy life.

And let’s get Texas back on track and doing the right thing by their citizens.