Re: Parents, Education, ASD kids

[Guest guest]

>

> But something else I've seen is that lower income, rural people don't

> have access to qualified professionals to diagnose their kids. I've

> personally seen kids that I could swear are autistic, but the parents

> are told it's due to poor parenting. They get scared of CPS and

> pretend there's no problem. When the kids reach school age, they are

> dx'd ADHD, emotionally impaired and/or MR.

Both my disabled children are preemies. The studies show that the mother's

education impacts how well preemies do. More education, better outcomes.

Why? Not because the mom's so smart but because she's educated she knows how

to seek services. Getting the services may provide a better outcome.

So, I think that the " better " educated parents may seek a diagnosis more

quickly while others may not. My kids were referred to Early On before we

left the hospital. They went on Medicaid immediately, while they were

hospitalized, to help with the bills. We also received a small subsidy.

While in Early On I met a young woman, not the brightest crayon in the box,

but a sweetie none the less. She had a decent job with some benefits. She

knew nothing about SSI, or out Family Support Subsidy (Michigan), nothing

about respite, etc. He son had cerebral palsy and it was quite severe. We

really had quite a time educating her on all the services that were available

for her son. She didn't want " welfare " . But she was finally convinced that

if it was in the best interests of her son to go for it.

People around where I live are appalled that I get Medicaid for . Too

bad! It's the only way I can get therapy for him. Our insurance won't pay

for any developmental disabilities that a child was born with. Our friends

think that I don't know what I'm talking about. I wish they would read their

insurance policies because they would find the same thing! Also, our

insurance does not pay for childhood vaccinations either.

I usually get treated like crap when I try to use our Medicaid card, until

they find out I have half a brain in my head. That discrimination really

burns me up! It's like I don't take care of my kids because I have

Medicaid. When in fact the opposite is true. I have Medicaid because I take

care of my kids!

Maureen