Reader comments
Parents urge autism incident registry funding

4 comments   |   Read story

TrickyD | 8:18 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008
I have an autistic son, but we didn't have that diagnosed until he was in kindergarten. Fortunately, however, knowing that things were different with him we were able to enroll him in "Kids on the Move". Because of that intervention program, our son is a much different person today that he probably would have been without the intervention. These programs are extremely valuable for children with specific disorders.
Malificent | 8:39 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008
I also have an autistic son. Mine was diagnosed only 2 years ago. He is now 14. He has other problems, and his autism is called Aspergers. We did not even know this existed until the diagnoses. With this level there are few support programs in Utah, and our insurance does not cover any of them. With having few choices and all out of pocket we need legislation to step up. They need to start with ORS. When my son was 9 he had to be institutionalized. He was in the state hospital, and we no longer received any financial assistance for him. In fact not only did the state stop assistance for him, they began charging us for child support. So now we were faced with loss of income, no insurance coverage, and having to pay out of pocket to get him the help he needed.
Concerned parent | 9:52 a.m. Feb. 5, 2008
I do Not have any children that are Autistic, but I have two born with Spina BIfida. I have found that for the most part, the State has been good to work with. They have helped on the wheelchairs and ramps.
The school district and church have also been a source of help. Maybe the difference is that Spina Bifida is very visable. Good luck in your quest to get funding.
Comments continue below
Mother | 7:52 p.m. Feb. 5, 2008
I have a Downs son, but I have a grandson who may have Asperger's. I wish I had paid more attention to the work of Dr. Ruth Harrell, PhD. (of Johns Hopkins and Old Dominion Universities) who once told me that her nutritional research could "turn autism off and on". At the time I wasn't interested in autism, being still struggling to help our DS baby.
The NACD (check their website) has done wonders for children with both disabilities.
Incidently, with Dr. Harrell's and the NACD's help, our 20 year old DS son has just been called to serve a part-time service mission, which thrills him to death. He also reads fluently enough to read the Bible. There is help out there--and very little of what we got came from the state.
Parenting a handicapped child is a lift-time commitment and it's not easy.

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Image

Calleen Kenney helps her daughter Maia, 8, say a few words to the House Appropriations Committee over Health and Human Services.

Advertisement
previousnext

Latest comments

Y. scientists rip lawmakers on climate

Climate scientists hurt their own credibility when they dismiss or downplay...

but, there's a 100% chance you don't know what you're talking about if...

Different year, same result! South Sevier you wanted it so badly to be your...

5A volleyball: Vikings snare title

You are right on one thing, PG is amazing and played amazing last night....

4A volleyball: Warriors top Flyers

What maybe one more year for Graft? Please make Alaina Parker the head...

Rookie's big game dooms Jazz

Size Centers =3 Agility Centers =4 Boozer = size of power forward but...

5A football: Darts edge PG

Congrats, want a medal or something? I also called the 1968 world series...

BYU does well with extra time to prepare and mediocre, average...

TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd

for definition of clueless, see mirror "if TCU were to play Florida or...

If you dont like the officiating, and you think there needs to be new...

Advertisements
Advertisement