How This Works

I have a boy aged 4 diagnosed with autism. No one who does NOT have a child with autism can truly understand. As parents, we MUST stand together for our children and work tirelessly to get the word out that autism is not going away and our children have the right to the help they need. Its up to us cause no one else is listening.
posted by standing.up on 12/18/07 4:32: PM

I am a special education teacher and have worked with children with autism this past summer. It is incredible to see what some of the familes of these kids have to do in order to make things work. While some of them need only a little more attention than a "normal" child, many need constant care and attention. Expenses become overwhelming, but so can one's frustration. This is a great cause! I am glad to see people who are willing to help out!
posted by Joe Chovan on 12/18/07 1:32: PM

This was beautiful and oh so true. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars on our son Ethan's therapies. He was diagnosed at the age of 2 and his progress has been slow. He still does not speak, is not fully pottytrained and has behaviors that endanger him (PICA and Elopement) as well as affect others around him (sleep disorders, constant loud vocalizations that only he can understand, uncontrollable eating and isolation). We were only able to afford 3 hrs a day/six day a week of therapy for him. Think how far he may have come if insurance had paid for the 12 hrs per day/seven days a week that he needed.
posted by Carol Nunez on 12/18/07 11:30: AM

Some proportion of children with autism can completely recover and grow up to function independently and without any special help if they receive at least 30 hours per week of ABA therapy, for at least two years, starting before age 5 or so. The science is clear on this. Demand effective treatment for your children. Demand published scientific evidence that the treatment your school is providing actually works.
posted by Autism Researcher on 12/18/07 10:04: AM

My son is 7 and is in public school because we can't afford the cost involved with him attending private school. It has been recommended that he go to a special private school that would provide him with the special services that he needs. By being recommended, the financial responsibility would fall upon our school system and the state however the school system will not give him up (probably because they would lose the money the state gives them). It is frustrating to know that the help could be available but we are being denied. Our state has a mandate in place but if your insurance is self-funded they do not have to go by the state mandate (and ours is self-funded). Our state has an autism waiver that would provide funds for individuals but the waiting list is 7 years, alot longer that 2. In the meantime, we wait and watch him slip away and listen to all the hype about raising funds for finding a cure rather than raising funds for intervention for the ones who are already diagnosed. We live in fear that we will get that phone call from the school saying that he has hurt someone with one of his agressive outbursts that comes from frustration of not being able to communicate his wants and needs. Our family deals with the stress that is put upon us just to survive everyday dealing with this disease and the absence of other family memebers who do not want to get involved and help us out. I hope that someday he will get the help he needs. That all who live with Autism will get help.
posted by MJ on 12/18/07 9:57: AM

My son of 14 has Aspergers Syndome
posted by Tom on 12/18/07 8:44: AM

Autism is an illness just as serious as cancer or diabetes. Insurance companies are bleeding people dry with expensive policies that don't really cover much. We need to get them to cover autism and make coverage affordable for all people no matter what the circumstance!
posted by Victoria on 12/18/07 8:21: AM

My child is 17 and has ADHD with tendencies to autism. This is a great video for teachers who don't understand what we deal with from day to day. Send to all your educator friends and your teachers. Hugs to all the lovely children in our world that don't get to walk the regular path.
posted by Patricia on 12/18/07 6:25: AM

This film was very powerful. I had no idea that Autism was not covered under Insurance. It is so important that when a child does not reach his or her milestones that it could be Autism or some other condition. Parent's and Caregivers need to be aware although a child might have a disability they are still a very special child and they need that extra t.l.c. too. Thank you for this wonderful website Autism Speaks!!!!!!!!!
posted by M.Senior on 12/17/07 9:26: PM

Definitely could be Angelman Syndrome. They need to see a geneticist and go through all the tests would identify the different genetic subtypes of Angelman Syndrome. That the child can't talk, is one big characteristic, the way she holds her hands, the open mouth posture, the big smile, the faraway look in her eyes......at least get this confirmed before or if she is having seizures. She should have an EEG done just to be sure. Good luck.
posted by es on 12/17/07 9:15: PM

What a fantastic video from one of my favorite bands. As a professional who works with autism daily, it saddens me that the people who we pay to protect, teach and to serve our children are our biggest adversaries. I pray for the day of shared responsibility of the insurance companies, school districts and other state funded agencies. We can do so much more and help so many more!
posted by Vince on 12/17/07 9:00: PM

Angelman Syndrome is VERY misdiagnosed as Autism! I see many characteristics in the child in this video. I do hope that Claudia's parents and others reading this will visit www.angelman.org and MAKE SURE your diagnosis is CORRECT.
posted by T.R on 12/17/07 7:16: PM

Thank you so much for making people aware, it takes a village to raise a child but an army to cure one. We must stick togethere and keep on with the support, Five for Fighting hats off to you for helping out!!!!
posted by Jaynna Moxley on 12/17/07 3:44: PM

Autism has become a "silent epidemic" that is crippling children and families everyday. Why doesn't it get the visibility and funding of other diseases (for instance AIDS)?? We need to be the voice for those that can't speak--write to the politicians in the position to change the laws that prevent these children from getting the treatment that they deserve, and the funds for the research to determine the cause of autism and what we can do to prevent it.
posted by Lori on 12/17/07 1:57: PM

As a parent with a son with autism, it is exciting to see the world coming together to increase awareness and funding for autism. There is nothing I would like to fight for more than for insurance to cover intervention for all of the children and families. For us, ABA therapy has made a significant difference.
posted by Jodi on 12/17/07 1:38: PM

Thank you Five for Fighting, for generously donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for *each time* this video is viewed to help fund research studies which help find a cure.
posted by Lucasg on 12/17/07 1:04: PM

I do not have any children yet, but this makes me sadden to know that such precious gifts from GOD lead to stillness. I truly hope we can find a cure some day, but for now all we can do is pray! All the cases and researchers are in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck and GOD bless!
posted by Christina on 12/17/07 12:42: PM

This clip was very good very heart warming may god watch over the children and familys
posted by gina on 12/17/07 10:33: AM

This clip was excellant. My prayers are with this family and hopes of research to find a cure.
posted by Marlene MacEachern on 12/17/07 8:46: AM

What a wonderful web-site. we do not have a child with Autism, but we do have a child, a young man now, that was recently diagnosed as being Bipolar/ADHD. We knew of the ADHD since early childhood and he received the "proper" meds. He never did fit in at school or socially, so to speak, but managed to get through school. People do not believe that there is serious mental health issues everywhere, but his father and I have been through a lot, especially this passed year and a half. We do have people who continue to pray for our family and our faith is strong, but, there are those out there who think he should just be "LOCKED UP"!!!!! Where, I ask, is the real justice in helping all people, young, old, infants or toddlers, who suffer from some sort of neurological affliction, for the help from insurance companies or just socially? The same respect and consideration that we all want should be given to these people as well! Good luck. We wish you well. Regards.
posted by Tico on 12/16/07 10:30: PM