Autism Strains Families' Pocketbooks, Emotions

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Parents that can, start autism homes in your town/city. Family homes with several adults with autism or other intellectual or neural disorders living there and three full-time care-givers, just as an example of a possible set-up. It will take people that love people with autism to take care of them as they age and we die. Siblings can not be expected to step in, although they may of course. It is up to us parents to do it ourselves, together.
Love
Bette single parent of 20 year-old twins, one of each, one with autism.

Bette of CA 8:15PM April 08, 2009

Please how much does it cost to send them to school pre k

Clair of GA 11:47PM February 15, 2009

The public doesn't realize the half of it until you have an adult with regressive autism. Our son, Eric, was born normal but regressed into autism after receiving the MMR vaccine. The other vaccines didn't help either and in fact, the hepatitis B vaccines caused Eric to have the aggressions we and others saw. No one helped us when Eric would bite, head-butt, scratch, kick and pull hair. Not the schools, the medical community or the state.Only the police and local emergency services helped us at times. He is over six feet tall and strong and broke several doors in our house trying to get at us.
Now Eric is in an out-of-state residential center. It breaks our heart that we could never help him. He will never have a normal life because no one wants to investigate research that could reverse the vaccine damage. To do that would be to admit that vaccines caused our son's disability. So thousands more families across the US will suffer like our family has.
Shameful and a national tragedy that will continue to unfold.

Ray Gallup of NJ 8:29PM January 31, 2009

My son exhibits all the signs of Autisim, why did I capitilize that? Dunno... I can't, I want too, but I can't. He is sooo sweet, he love's "Me", Mickey Mouse and all of the characters. favorite show is Little Einstiens, or Super Why, or he loves "Can You Teach My Aligator Manors" But He Love's Me...He makes me Look into his eyes, an d will not let go...That baby is sooo sweet! He looks for me when I am gone, wy do you want to call my baby Autistic? He will pull my face to his, just so hie can look into my eyes...If he is Autistic...you tellme...Sad.

H's Mom of GA 11:09PM January 11, 2009

Hi, I would just like to make your readers aware that although I agree that children with severe Autism often have difficulty showing their affection and emotions, that does not make it fair for you to belittle the severe financial, social and emotional strain and drain on families who have children with other needs.
How many friends homes can you visit with a large teen in a wheelchair? How many groceries stores can you go to with your severely intellectually challenged child who has melt downs equal to or worse than a child with Autism? How many less days off of work does a parent of a child with a medical condition need to take?
As a single parent of one of these "other" children, I have had to deal with personal injuries, burn-outs and many, many unpaid days at work. Finding childcare is also always a problem!
I know I am not alone when I say that parents of children with any special need require the support of family and friends but they especially need the backing of government agencies. Any money invested in helping families stay strong (respite,therapies...)saves the government money by keeping the children in their own homes.

Irena 12:20PM December 22, 2008

I have volunteered to be moderator and host for the Obama-Biden Transition Project Autism Health Care Community Discussion. There is a very limited time to make and impact on this discussion. I came up with hosting a Autism Health Twitter day to have a discussion with all stakeholders. We will have a great day because the word is out. You could help us make it a impactful day to parents by helping us get the word out. Please if you could post anything about Autism and Healthcare then mention Autism Health Care twitter day on Dec 23 all day. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Tim
Press Release:
Autism and Healthcare twitter day December 23rd all day #HHS Tom Daschle invited Tanners Dad / Tim Welsh will be the Autism / Healthcare Community Discussion Host and Moderator. Sign onto twitter. Search for #HHS and post your comments and answers to questions.
No prizes no games no tinsel Just a conversation for families fighting for children with Autism. Be There Tues Dec 23 ALL DAY Obama wants to know.
http://www.causecast.org/member/tanners-dad
Regards,
Tim
TimWelsh/TannersDad
Autism Advocate
http://www.causecast.org/member/tanners-dad
http://twitter.com/TannersDad
http://www.linkedin.com/in/tannersdadtimwelsh

TannersDad TimWelsh of IL 8:35PM December 20, 2008

I feel like all the hopefullness goes to parents of kids with Aspergers. What about parents with kids that are not "high Functioning" Aspergers?What will happen with them 30 years down the line? Any ideas ??

Lynn Finson of NY 3:12AM December 19, 2008

AS PARENTS OF A 6 YEAR OLD WITH AUTISM, WE KNOW FIRST HAND HOW STRESSFUL THIS CAN BE. WE CANNOT AFFORD THE THERAPIES NEEDED TO HELP OUR DAUGHTER. I (WIFE) CANNOT WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME AS MY DAUGHTER IS NOT IN SCHOOL MORE THAN 2.5 HOURS TUESDAY-FRIDAY. THE FINANCIAL BURDEN LIES ON MY HUSBAND, THE PHYSICAL BURDEN LIES ON MYSELF, (WIFE). TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WE HAVE NO FAMILY SUPPORT, NO RESPITE CARE, WE ARE UNELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THERAPIES. WE HAVE HAD OUR HOME ON THE MARKET FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND HAD TO SUCCUMB TO A FAILING ECONOMY. ITS HEARTRENCHING TO SEE HER TREATED SO UNFAIRLY AND DISRIMINATED. HOW AWFUL TO SEE SOME STATES MANDATE INSURANCE CARE AND OUR STATE NOT. A CHILD WITH A DEFECT SUCH AS CEREBAL PULSY ISNT IGNORED BECAUSE OF THE STATE HE OR SHE IS IN, BUT AN AUTISTIC CHILD IS IF HE OR SHE ISN'T IN A STATE THAT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES. WE HOPE AND PRAY NO ONE ELSE WILL EVER HAVE TO WALK IN OUR SHOES AND THAT THE SYSTEM STEPS UP AND TAKES HEED TO HELP ALL AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY CAN LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

SUSAN AND JERRY ZIOLKOWSKI of WA 9:34PM December 18, 2008

I have given up great jobs, and forgetg about any more career paths. I have a high tech degree but even trying to run a busienss from home is daunting. My child got dx early. Pre age 2 and intense EI started, she is now 23, but with no full time support for her and I have long ago exhausted all savings, hell, i lost housing assitance time because I cannot get her to leave home or go into places. Many auti girls are like this, so I inherited some money, buying a home in NY, better servceis, cheaper homes in the area I am going, more SSI, and some help for me. Where I live now has no caregiver benefits, If i die she is so in trouble. I have had to learn about specila needs trust, the laws, and I am quite frankly tired of the fights. So the change to own a home outright in NY is a huge releif to me. I can leave to her and I am now finally trying to surround myself with as many good people as I can for her. I worked as long and hard as I could to padd my ssi for her. The more I earn the more she can get when I am dead. Do your homework parents. Demand changes to the laws now!!! FIGHT the SYSTEM because wha tyou do not change will make your child homeless.
We have spent time i shelters, it was not pleasant. No one would care for here in the daycares when she began to ahve seizzures, illegal but my states disability law agency did nothing. Go to the federal websites parents, informe yourself. www.ada.gov www.doj.gov ada home page, www.disabilityinfo.gov www.idea.ed.gov www.nichcy.org learn, educate yourself and fight now. we are in this together parents and caregivers.

Cat of UT 9:00PM December 18, 2008

When a child is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) parents struggle to find hope. Chances are they won't find much of it. The self-employed workers, such as myself, soon start passing up opportunities for work/money to spend time with their child, trying to find him/her.
Children with ASD that have regressed from the "typical" child with verbal skills and eye contact are particularly distressing because what once was, is no longer there.
I hate to leave for a job that takes me away from my son because I fear what autism might do while I am away, as if it is a theatrically sadistic babysitter, I fear it will attack him, hurt him deeper, take him farther away from me. I don't want to miss the opportunity to rescue him, to protect him, I don't want to lose him anymore than I already have.
I perfectly hate those who would further the destruction of any child by denying the necessary assistance needed particularly in light of the trillions of dollars in bailouts, I mean corporate welfare.
It should be about the child, not the money. After all, children grow up to pay taxes and drive tanks. Why not a little investment in their future?

Father of one of NC 7:28PM December 18, 2008