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NewportBeachDude
Deinonychus
Joined: Dec 25, 2007
Posts: 355
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 Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| DW_a_mom wrote: | | Pepperfire wrote: | | Depends on where you life. My best friend has to fight and fight and fight to get any sort of support for her son -- He's 13 and is an Aspie. |
I agree, it is very very inconsistent across the US what you will get. First, we are a nation where much is left in the hands of state and local governments. Even when you are talking federal dollars, they are often apportioned to state and local agencies to administer. Second, the gatekeepers to all services are individual human beings and, therefore, the level of understanding and ability to provide access is going to vary according to the experience and personality of the specific people you encounter. Third, in some regions of our vast country the experts and opportunities for services simply do not exist, either by luck or demographics.
I have been lucky to get all I have needed for my son through our school, but I know that is not the case nationwide. It has often surprised me to read the experiences of other parents, the quality varies so widely. |
Good post. We do live in an area that is probably one of the best in the nation. But, property taxes are high. State taxes are higher. Local taxes are high. I'm glad my son is benefitting from our tax dollars because they don't penalize families based on higher income. Also, my son has an official Autism diagnosis and that makes all the difference. The OPs article is on Autism, not Aspergers. So, that's why I chimed in. However, I do know some regions of the country can't keep up with the number of diagnosis so services are lacking. And, rural and poorer areas have challenges as well. What much of it boils down to is too many cases of Autism and not enough people to service them.
There are some areas near us that do recognize Aspergers. But, they are unique. I've yet to hear of any insurance company that covers Aspergers. I do think Aspergians need to spend time focusing on these issues instead of demeaning organizations that are putting Autism in the forefront and really opening up doors for more and more services for Autism.
Thanks to the recognition it's getting and all the intervention programs, I really think my son's generation of Autism will have a better and brighter future than those before it. |
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DW_a_mom
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Posts: 1000
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| NewportBeachDude wrote: | | I really think my son's generation of Autism will have a better and brighter future than those before it. |
I have to agree with that. I see so much good going on with these children, and so much positive awareness, that I count my son lucky to be part of this generation, and not a previous one. We are, for the most part, keeping these children happy, willing to interact, able to interact, and allowing their inner life to be seen. Before my son was diagnosed as having Aspergers, he was getting so frustrated at school that he was starting to shut down, to withdraw into himself, and write off the world as not being fair. I see those feelings in adult Aspies often. My son is not growing up with them. The condition was caught, services were given, and he is very happy and self-confident. That alone is a supreme gift, and it comes simply from an evolving understanding of what the spectrum is, and what it means.
Although I am not personally going to give Autism Speaks any credit for it, lol. I credit some special and perceptive teachers, etc. Shoot, some of the best information I have gotten has come from the after-school childcare director, and her information is the result of simply being able to tune into kids of all sorts really really well. As I posted elsewhere, I do see things that trouble me with Autism Speaks as an organization.
BUT, not having a child more severely affected, I can only guess what the world of services looked like in the past, what funding was available, and what forces drove the change, so I can't say that certain organizations did or did not have a part in it.
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