Where does a parent turn?
April 22nd, 2007
Many of us know of autism but it is personal for Kevin Aylward at Wizbang.
The Economics Of Autism
All three of our boys, twins age 5 and a 3-year-old, are autistic. Anecdotally I hear I’m only two children away from establishing some sort of world record, as I was told that the O’Donnell family featured earlier this year on Extreme Makeover Home Edition with 5 out of six children on the autism spectrum is the most on record in a single family in the United States.If the financial crush of providing treatment to a single autistic child is staggering (estimates are that it will cost over $3 million dollars per child over their lifetime), imagine my dilemma. There’s a variety of services and programs available to autistic children none of which are covered by the vast majority of private health insurers. There are intensive therapies with scientifically proven results available, again not covered by insurance. Do you want to know who our system in the United States has entrusted (or rather mandated) to be responsible “solving” the autism problem?
Well worth the read and let me say Mr. Aylward, thanks for sharing.
Read on.
Posted in 4 Responses to “Where does a parent turn?”
Its heartbreaking to see a child with this disease. The worst part is not having a defense and not knowing how it is caused. I watch a hearing in Congress the other day and I don’t care how strong you think you are, it’s enough to bring tears to grown man’s eyes.
My older son has mild autism, called pervasive developmntal disorder, and my wife has a cousin with full-blown autism. With the latter, he wasn;t diagnosed until he was almost a teen. Fortunately with my son, he was diagnosed and we got him the proper treatment (still ongoing) at a young age.
I sympathize, but can;t fully relate to what Kevin deals with.
I’m glad he’s getting help, Big Mo. Boy you have your hands full too with the little one having just being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.
Prayers and best wishes to you and thanks for being one of our regulars.
It is sad when any child must battle a disease or disorder and much of their success depends on loving family.
The shame is that we do not recognize not only the emotional and monetary strain many of these circumstances cause but the fact that so many children are denied the opportunity to rise to their full potential.