One in 150 children are now being diagnosed with autism~an alarming rate that puts us in near epidemic crisis. For Missourians requiring support for their child with Autism, getting that help can add more stress and anguish to an already strained situation. Given that Missouri lags far behind the nation (48th in the country for special education funding) in supporting people with autism, we are poised to pay a hefty price tag for the lifetime~in excess of $3 million~of each and every child who does not receive intervention and assistance at an early age. Though we realize this in fact, getting support and attention is an exhaustive and ongoing goal of those who have no choice but to face the burden of autism.
IEP's (Individual Education Plans) are supposed to be an important tool in guiding families with children with autism on a path to future success. However, Lee's Summit Autism Support Group, a website dedicated to serving families in a suburban area, portrays an all-too familiar depiction of how these meetings typically play out:
"So you sit there and these people tell you that your child is never going to be normal, which is a very hard thing to handle," Tucker said. "You assume that these people are giving you all the right information and you believe them and you sign on the dotted line. What you never find out is that those people are never going to give you what you need until you're smart enough to know what you need and you fight for it."
Unfortunately, it's one fight after another~and the squeaky wheel gets the oil. There is hope for the future however, as Missouri's senator Michael Gibbons has stepped to the forefront of the battle to serve the underserved. His MO Blue Ribbon Panel on Autism's Report has made 36 recommendations that, if incorporated into our legislation, could make Missouri a leader in serving the needs of those with autism.
The legislators convene on this very weighty topic come January and all parents of children with autism should unify their voice with a resounding call for choice and change in our system. Only then will we see the true hope for all who face the trials of serving their loved one with autism.
1 comment:
Thanks for this article. Our children will never get the help that they need unless we step up and demand it. We can no longer sit back and believe in the system. We can no longer be afraid to speak up. Our children's lives depend on it. Retaliation is not what we should fear. Our children's failure should be the only fear that we have. What can be worse than that?
Sherri Tucker
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