Expert: Catherine Ridenour - 3/27/2006

Question
   I am doing a position paper on the growing rate of autism and the government's actions in response to it and I was wondering if you can tell me how a family's life is changed once they find out that their child has autism. And I am also interested to know what the government is doing to help these families. For example are these families  getting different health insurance? are they getting any benefits? Is the government contributing enough money to promote any therapy or treatment plans?

Answer
Hi Chris,

First, let me say that I don't think autism is "growing" but rather, we have broadened the definition and are becoming better at diagnosing it in younger children as well as adults who never got an evaluation as children.

Also, I do not think vaccinations have anything to do with it.  Thimersol was removed some time ago, but new cases of autism abound.

So, what is the government doing?  Nothing new.  The Americans with Disabilities Act does cover diagnosed autism as a disability that requires employers to make "reasonable accomodations".  The problem there is getting the employer to even believe that there is such a thing as Asperger's Syndrome and to understand why they should change the light bulbs for someone who has it.

Children in public school are entitled to an IEP which is supposed to provide them with education, therapy and support appropriate to their need in the "least restrictive environment."  This can be fabulous or amount to nothing but lip service depending on the funding, skill and will of the school district involved.  

When it comes to insurance, you have whatever you can afford. If your employer has a plan that covers mental health, and yes, it's still considered a "mental illness," you can get some services paid for.  If you don't, you are out of luck.  We manage our daughter through her primary care physician who refills her ADHD and depression medications.  All the evaluations and therapists were either done through the school district or out of our pocket.

Severely affected children get far more service than someone with Asperger's syndrome.  After all, they appear to need it.  AS, however, is just as disabling when it comes to being able to hold a job.  It is a hidden disability.

The last resort for many is SSI and that is hard to get out of the government.  It is also hard for many high functioning autistics to accept as many are very bright and want to contribute to the world.  Not all are good writers or scientists (Dr. Temple Grandin, for instance) or musicians like my daughter.

Good luck with your paper,
Catherine