Chapter 7 - Three Canceled Visits
The early-intervention coordinator gave investigators attendance records.
Three home visits had been canceled within six weeks.
Dad believed the agency canceled them.
The agency believed the family canceled them.
Why?
Because Valerie told each side a different story.
To Dad:
“They’re short-staffed.”
To the therapist:
“Daniel wants to pause because Leo becomes overstimulated.”
Dad had never requested a pause.
Another home visit was moved to video.
Valerie told the therapist the nursery internet was unreliable.
It wasn’t.
The monitor log showed its power had been disconnected during the scheduled hour.
Still not proof by itself.
Then came the therapist’s notes.
During one earlier visit, Valerie said:
“I don’t want him growing up thinking the whole world rearranges itself because he can’t see properly.”
The therapist explained:
“Accessibility is not the same thing as indulgence.”
Valerie replied:
“That sounds like semantics.”
The therapist documented the conversation.
Not as abuse.
As caregiver education.
Another note:
Mother appears increasingly frustrated by recommended environmental consistency and verbal cueing.
Dad had never seen that note.
He should have.
The portal listed him.
But most alerts went to Valerie because she had made herself primary contact.
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Nobody thought that dangerous.
At the time.
