Autism Information: Baby Steps
Well, yesterday was Autism Awareness Day in the state of Mississippi (my home state). And it was a big day for those of us who have children with autism. We met in Jackson, Mississippi at the state capital building (which is absolutely gorgeous!) and showed our numbers. For a rally in the middle of the week, it wasn’t a bad showing. There were three of us from my home county. We were there to educate our representatives on the issues. To give them autism information and let them know how many children we are serving in their home district. The stats are staggering. 1 in 130 children are on the autism spectrum in our home county…our little county in Mississippi!
There are two main bills before our legislature this week. An insurance bill (which caps off at $50, 000 up to 21 years of age) and a vaccination bill. These bills aren’t new. However, they didn’t make it out of committee last year. So, the fact that they have made it this far…the fact that they have made it to the point of a vote…is nothing short of miraculous! As Representative Noel Akins (who is the father of all of our Autism legislation in Mississippi!) told me, we keep making baby steps.
Unfortunately, to most of the regular population, autism is still an enigma. it is an abstract condition. No one knows exactly what autism is. To be quite honest with you, until autism came into our lives, my husband and I didn’t know either. It was “Rain Man”. I’m sure it is to these legislators as well. They don’t understand that autism is a treatable condition, when diagnosed early. They don’t understand that it is a spectrum condition, having varying degrees of severity. Again, yesterday was baby steps in that direction. Speaking with some of our representatives was quite enlightening. I think it was for them as well.
Our legislators don’t understand how early intervention and autism therapy will help our children. How ABA, OT, PT and the like will help our kids early on. How therapies like HBOT have helped so many and (in my opinion) should be covered under insurance. How so many other therapies are helping our children and should be explored. I wanted to jump up and down in the middle of that beautiful capital building (which has one HECK of an echo, by the way) and scream: “HELP OUR BABIES….PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER!” But it wouldn’t have accomplished anything. Other than to get me dragged off by capital police. Never saw the inside of the Jackson jail when I lived there. I kept Noel’s words in my head: ” baby steps“.
I remember our son Chase’s first baby steps. He was 10 months old. My husband Trey and I were in our first house. We knew it was coming. Chase had been coasting on furniture. Pulling up. Supporting himself and walking around the room. So, we knew it was just a matter of time. It was a magical moment when Chase took his first baby steps! I can still see it in my mind. He went from Trey to me. And I cried. It was remarkable! You always remember, don’t you?
So, legislators took baby steps this week. They opened their hearts and their eyes. And some got behind these bills. Some that had been opposed in the past. Representative Akins, his daughter Nicole Boyd, and others (including my dear friend Dr. Sheila Williamson) gave them autism information that they couldn’t deny. It is a case of: pay me now or pay me much more later with our children. Our children have such potential! Gifts to give the world! But to deny them health care…a basic right? Something that so many of us take for granted every day. A benefit that could help so many of our children become productive members of society! Yesterday, baby steps. Tomorrow…a giant leap for mankind?
Tags: autisminformation, autism therapy, autism education, baby steps
Thank you for fighting the fight. Unlike a condition like a missing limb or diabetes, autism isn’t always something that is visually apparent, so society is still ignorant about the facts and affects autism has on families. Children with autism should have the same coverage as a child with asthma or diabetes. In the long run, it is best for everyone involved. Deb, you are doing such a great job! You and all the others involved. I’m rootin’ for you. As a person going into the rehab counseling field, seeing basic rights such as getting the proper health care is a passion of the field.
Thank you Tina! It means so much to have your support.
Many of our bills go before Mississippi congress or before committees this week, so it is a big week for our families!
Many of the congressmen (and women) have never encountered a person with autism, so they don’t know that early intervention can HELP! I wish I could invite all of them to our programs so they can see these children for themselves. One of them actually said he would. I was greatly encouraged!
Tina, thank you for your encouragement and support! I will definitely pass it on to our parents. It means more than you can possibly imagine.
Deb
Tina,
I respect you so much! The fact that you are going into this field (in the days of budget cuts) is so admirable!
Thank you for your well wishes. It is difficult for many of our families. To me, it is a Civil Right. To have basic health coverage, even if a family has to pay a little more each month for coverage. WE would gladly do it!