Clinton’s Autism Plan and Politics

It’s the first time that autism has been raised as a national priority in a national election. It was a real honor to me to be interviewed today by Tim Farley on POTUS 08 with  XM Radio(the time for the interview, which was live, got moved around due to Trent Lott announcing his resignation and the interview was not archived).

I noted that Hillary Rodham Clinton’s autism plan bears a lot of similarities to the autism legislation (like the Combating Autism Act (CAA) and the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act (EPIAA) ) that have been passed, as her plan focuses both on funding research into the causes of autism and on education, services, and supports. I referred to the difficulties that families have had in getting services (such as behavior therapy) paid for by insurance. I also noted that there needs to be more attention given to autistic adults in regard to training for jobs and for long-term living arrangements (not that all autistic adults necessarily need specialized supports in these areas). And, I stated the necessity of consulting autistic adults about autism research, education, treatment and more—-that, if there is to be a national autism strategy, it is necessary to listen to and integrate as many perspectives about autism as possible. Mr. Farley was looking at Autism Vox as I spoke and noted some of the comments, and the variety of views therein expressed.

And, I was asked about, and talked about, Charlie. I tried (as much as one can in a few seconds) to give some account of his abilities and challenges as being “in the middle.” An autism plan will have an effect on his life.p>And, if you want to know the truth, I had to chuckle at myself as I hung up the phone. I am not a political person. Years ago, when I was being considered for an editorial position on a college newspaper, the editorial staff told me, in dead earnestness, “We’re going to make you the forum [opinions page] editor, because you have no opinions.” I know that sounds like a put-down and it was, but maybe not always: Years later, when I was the sole Classics professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at university in St. Paul, I was told that I would “make a great chair” because I was a Classicist, knew how to compromise, and did not take sides with any of the Spanish professors (who often got into elaborate and overly involved discussions about pedagogy and textbooks). 

But motherhood—and autism motherhood in particular, or for me in particular—-is politicizing me. Certainly I’ve never been so curious about reading through the candidates’ platforms about an issue (not that all of them have an autism plan—–while its content needs discussion, Clinton’s plan is the most fleshed out). Here is yet another way that life raising an autistic child has called for my continuing education—-and I am very grateful to Charlie, as ever and always.