Comments on: “Wards of the State in Any Case” http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:55:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tab http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-557853 Tab Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:42:23 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-557853 “The medical profession has stated there’s no reason to believe behavioral therapy is any more effective than anything else,” Peterson said. The National Academy of Sciences said "There does not appear to be a simple relationship between any particular intervention and 'recovery' from autistic spectrum disorder" meaning that ABA vs RDI vs Floortime methodologies had a no superiority over the other. NAS also said:"Effective programming requires a minimum of 25 hours per week of active engagement in intensive programming, 12 months a year. Effective intervention must be “intensive”; intensity of education is associated with amount of progress; hours of participation do not necessarily translate to hours of time engaged in intervention; “intensity” is best thought of as “large numbers of functional, developmentally relevant and high-interest opportunities to respond actively”; initial skill development will be accomplished from individual instruction." NOT that ASD interventions were ineffective. “The medical profession has stated there’s no reason to believe behavioral therapy is any more effective than anything else,” Peterson said.

The National Academy of Sciences said “There does not appear to be a simple relationship between any particular intervention and ‘recovery’ from autistic spectrum disorder” meaning that ABA vs RDI vs Floortime methodologies had a no superiority over the other.

NAS also said:”Effective programming requires a minimum of 25 hours per week of active engagement in intensive programming, 12 months a year. Effective intervention must be “intensive”; intensity of education is associated with amount of progress; hours of participation do not necessarily translate to hours of time engaged in intervention; “intensity” is best thought of as “large numbers of functional, developmentally relevant and high-interest opportunities to respond actively”; initial skill development will be accomplished from individual instruction.”

NOT that ASD interventions were ineffective.

]]> By: alyric http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-552227 alyric Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:03:25 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-552227 abfh has a point. When the advocates push for treatment based on one line only and that line can be shown, statistically at any rate, not improve matters above placebo, the situation gets a trifle comical or it would if the situation weren't also quite serious. Because, alas, having mixed up therapy with education particularly with a spectrum of students for whom the designated one true way may not be very appropriate and inflating the 'success' rates, we're now in something of a pickle. Who's at fault here sure is an interesting question. abfh has a point. When the advocates push for treatment based on one line only and that line can be shown, statistically at any rate, not improve matters above placebo, the situation gets a trifle comical or it would if the situation weren’t also quite serious. Because, alas, having mixed up therapy with education particularly with a spectrum of students for whom the designated one true way may not be very appropriate and inflating the ’success’ rates, we’re now in something of a pickle. Who’s at fault here sure is an interesting question.

]]> By: Kristina Chew, PhD http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-554829 Kristina Chew, PhD Fri, 30 May 2008 23:50:25 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-554829 The Louisiana House of Representatives has just passed <a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/19380374.html?showAll=y&c=y">Bill 958</a>, which requires health insurance coverage of autistic children: <blockquote>HB958 would require health insurance coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in children under age 17. The benefits could not exceed $36,000 per year and $144,000 per lifetime. Employers with less than 50 employees would not have to provide coverage. Foil said he doesn’t believe treating autism is currently required under state law, otherwise there would be no cost associated with the bill. He said the only statute he could find in current state law that includes autism refers to treatments for mental illness. “Autism is not mental illness,” [State Representative Franklin] Foil said. [Rep. Foil has an autistic child.] “It’s a neurological disorder.”</blockquote> The Louisiana House of Representatives has just passed Bill 958, which requires health insurance coverage of autistic children:

HB958 would require health insurance coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in children under age 17. The benefits could not exceed $36,000 per year and $144,000 per lifetime.

Employers with less than 50 employees would not have to provide coverage.

Foil said he doesn’t believe treating autism is currently required under state law, otherwise there would be no cost associated with the bill.

He said the only statute he could find in current state law that includes autism refers to treatments for mental illness.

“Autism is not mental illness,” [State Representative Franklin] Foil said. [Rep. Foil has an autistic child.] “It’s a neurological disorder.”

]]> By: Niksmom http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-554811 Niksmom Fri, 30 May 2008 21:00:24 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-554811 Wow. Wonder how Mr. Peterson would feel about being euthanized before he became "a ward of the state" from age or some other debilitating illness? Bet he'd be singing a very different tune. Wow. Wonder how Mr. Peterson would feel about being euthanized before he became “a ward of the state” from age or some other debilitating illness? Bet he’d be singing a very different tune.

]]> By: Regan http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-555661 Regan Fri, 30 May 2008 20:28:08 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-555661 I suspect that Rep. Peterson sees this all as being very far away from himself--the use of the term "these individuals" being kind of a giveaway. The statement about wards of the state, etc., was looking at all of it as worst case scenario since my understanding was that the actuarial cost analysis presented to the House gave a more tiered and realistic picture. That he still presents the hopeless worst case scenario to the press not only is a further slap in the face but indicates a willful ignorance of the testimony. I suspect that Rep. Peterson sees this all as being very far away from himself–the use of the term “these individuals” being kind of a giveaway.

The statement about wards of the state, etc., was looking at all of it as worst case scenario since my understanding was that the actuarial cost analysis presented to the House gave a more tiered and realistic picture. That he still presents the hopeless worst case scenario to the press not only is a further slap in the face but indicates a willful ignorance of the testimony.

]]> By: Joe http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-557830 Joe Fri, 30 May 2008 19:18:30 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-557830 That tells me that Peterson sees me as a non-person, even though he's never met me and knows nothing about me or my ability to provide for myself or my family. What a jerk. I'd give him an earful if he was my Rep. Thankfully I'm not in Oklahoma. Either he's an idiot or there's an insurance industry lobbyist smiling somewhere. That tells me that Peterson sees me as a non-person, even though he’s never met me and knows nothing about me or my ability to provide for myself or my family.

What a jerk. I’d give him an earful if he was my Rep. Thankfully I’m not in Oklahoma. Either he’s an idiot or there’s an insurance industry lobbyist smiling somewhere.

]]> By: Mrs. C http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-555636 Mrs. C Fri, 30 May 2008 18:23:00 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-555636 Oh, how dare he. I'm a bit of a libertarian at heart and hate to regulate everything... but when you don't have something nice to say, please shut up. That's why I'm not saying anything else. ;] Oh, how dare he. I’m a bit of a libertarian at heart and hate to regulate everything… but when you don’t have something nice to say, please shut up.

That’s why I’m not saying anything else. ;]

]]> By: Autismville http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-553452 Autismville Fri, 30 May 2008 18:14:12 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-553452 My mom lives in Tulsa and told me Peterson won't be running for re-election. What a jerk! My mom lives in Tulsa and told me Peterson won’t be running for re-election. What a jerk!

]]> By: abfh http://www.blisstree.com/articles/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/comment-page-1/#comment-553448 abfh Fri, 30 May 2008 18:02:41 +0000 http://www.autismvox.com/wards-of-the-state-in-any-case/#comment-553448 Unfortunately, that "wards of the state in any case" attitude is what happens when autism advocates make the mistake of citing cost-benefit studies that rely on prejudiced assumptions in claiming that every autistic person will cost millions in lifetime care. Unfortunately, that “wards of the state in any case” attitude is what happens when autism advocates make the mistake of citing cost-benefit studies that rely on prejudiced assumptions in claiming that every autistic person will cost millions in lifetime care.

]]>