JUST FRUSTRATED ... VENTING

[Guest guest]

Okay, this is petty because my son is doing well and we are certainly not in any

type of crisis mode ...

but I have talked with so many people lately whose children have autism. I

think that is hard, but not harder any any child in need of assistance.

They have been telling me all the benefits of getting the autism diagnosis.

They even get reimbursed through their insurance company/and or government for

mileage in driving to therapy appointments. EXCUSE ME! There are parents on

this board who drive 2+ hours (up to 8, I've heard) to get therapy for their OCD

children and can barely get insurance companies to cover portions of the therapy

itself.

I feel for these parents with autistic children. I really do, but what about

everyone else?!!!

Does anyone else share my frustration, or am I completely out of line here?

in WA

[Guest guest]

If it's gov't, the funding for autism probably comes through developmental

disability type funds. Different than " mental health. " I would guess that is

what is funding their therapy. That and especially if they get Medicaid Waiver

type program funding.

I have known some with an autism diagnosis who have not been able to get the

developmental disability (DD) type funds (waiting list, other reasons) and not

get any services. Either they couldn't get in the " DD Program " funding and/or

their private insurance wouldn't cover autism. They actually needed their child

to have a " mental health " diagnosis added so they could get some type service

through mental/behavioral health with either gov't or private health insurance.

And then the mental health services offered really don't fit what the autistic

child needs, the therapists aren't trained for autism, etc.

Here in NC, they have drastically cut DD program services these past years and

kids & adults aren't getting so many hours of services any longer. And therapy

appts being limited per year.

But, yes, I agree, and understand your feelings on it. Even though OCD is

included in our state parity law, a lot of insurances don't cover mental health

services, and really don't offer much in those that do. I know, I looked all

around at health insurance since I had to get his own individual policy

this fall. And I definitely wanted a little mental health thrown in just in

case.

That's just my take on it all. Used to work in the DD department at our local

mental health center.

>

> Okay, this is petty because my son is doing well and we are certainly not in

any type of crisis mode ...

>

> but I have talked with so many people lately whose children have autism. I

think that is hard, but not harder any any child in need of assistance.

>

> They have been telling me all the benefits of getting the autism diagnosis.

They even get reimbursed through their insurance company/and or government for

mileage in driving to therapy appointments. EXCUSE ME! There are parents on

this board who drive 2+ hours (up to 8, I've heard) to get therapy for their OCD

children and can barely get insurance companies to cover portions of the therapy

itself.

>

> I feel for these parents with autistic children. I really do, but what about

everyone else?!!!

>

> Does anyone else share my frustration, or am I completely out of line here?

>

> in WA

>