The cost of treatments and therapies for autism and how to pay for them. The question of what is the best/right/appropriate “treatment” for autistic children and is an educational/behavioral method like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) really a treatment that should be covered by insurance companies, or is is something that school districts (under IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) should be providing? Who pays, or who can pay, or who should pay, for what—-and what about speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy? And while ABA is widely used as a methodology for teaching autistic children, especially …read more

The Military Family Autism Equality Act (HR3690) will provide retired military families with autistic children the same health care benefits as active duty services members, today’s Mount Vernon Gazette reports. Some 8,784 retiree families stand to benefit, according to Department of Defense statistics. The legislation was introduced by Virginia Congressman James P. Moran (D-8) and Florida Congressman Jeff Miller (R). Currently, active duty service members who have an autistic child receive benefits through TRICARE, which provides $2,500 a month (a max of $30,000 per year) for Applied Behavioral Analysis; these dependents end when an active duty military person retires.
Congressman …read more

Laurie Duddy’s 8 year old twins, Tommy and Alex, both have severe autism. She—and a number of other parents of autistic children—are now studying for a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell College in northern New Jersey. Today’s New York Times profiles the program and some of the parents who are studying in it:
In most states, a generic special education degree is sufficient to treat children with autism and to use the particular techniques of A.B.A., the only therapy for the disorder with proven results in peer-reviewed research. But many colleges and universities now offer specialized degrees …read more