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New York Regulation Makes Autism Coverage Difficult

Insurance companies in New York are required to cover the costs of applied behavior analysis. This went into effect in 2011. Now, a new state regulation has popped up that would greatly reduce the number of providers for ABA therapy that the insurance companies would cover. This will make it harder for families to afford the therapy that their children require. In 2011, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law that required health insurance companies to cover the cost of autism services. The insurers had to pay up to $45,000 a year for therapy and treatment, including applied behavior analysis (ABA). … Continue reading →

Parents Sue Insurers Over Autism Coverage

Several class-action lawsuits have been filed in an effort to require private health insurance companies to cover treatment for autism. The parents want it covered like other conditions that affect the brain are. The insurance companies have been placing caps on the amount of treatment that kids with autism can have covered, Autism spectrum disorders affect one out of every 88 children. There is no cure, but there are some treatments that can be helpful. Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is a treatment that has been successful. This is not the type of treatment that can be administered once or … Continue reading →

Technology That Helps Keep Your Child Safe

It isn’t possible for a parent to keep an eye on his or her child at all times. Children that have certain types of special needs often have a tendency to wander off. This can be a terrifying thought for parents! Fortunately, there is some technology that can help you locate your child. Kids that have a severe autism spectrum disorder typically have a tendency to wander or “elope”. Studies show that around half of all children with autism will display a tendency to wander off. Unlike children who do not have any types of special needs, some kids who … Continue reading →

Rhode Island Signs Autism Reform Legislation

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has signed a law that will require health insurance companies in this state to provide coverage of the kinds of therapies that help children who have autism. This makes Rhode Island the twenty-seventh state to make this type of law. There was a bill called Senate Bill 107 that Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has now signed into law. This new law requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for certain kinds of autism therapies. Specifically, this law makes insurers cover the costs of applied behavior analysis (ABA). The law also requires coverage of speech … Continue reading →

“Help Me, I’m Stuck in Autism.”

I once heard about a frightening scenario where a patient undergoing surgery is put under general anesthesia, but only the immobilizing aspect of it takes affect. The patient is able to feel the pain of the surgery and comprehends everything that is happening, but is powerless speak, move, or to ask for help. I can’t think of too many things more terrifying. Is it possible that autistic children are in a similar predicament? Do you ever wonder whether children with autism are imprisoned in a world of total sensory chaos, but on some level can comprehend what they are experiencing? … Continue reading →

Syndrome Soup: When Your Kid Has a Mixed Diagnosis

Although some special needs children have a very specific diagnosis of ADHD, autism, or Tourette syndrome, etc., many children have symptoms from a variety of disorders. For example, a child might have Tourette-like tics, with ADHD-like inattention, OCD-like anxiety, and bipolar-like mood swings. Add a dash of learning disabilities, and you’ve got syndrome soup. Many neurological disorders have cross-over symptoms, and many are commonly seen together, such as ADHD and Tourette syndrome. Sometimes these mixed-diagnosis kids have a long list of disorders which seem to utilize every letter of the alphabet, or they might be in limbo with no specific … Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Special Ed Vouchers

Ohio has expanded its school voucher program to include all special education students. This means that parents of kids who have special needs, of any kind, can get financial support to put their child into a private school. The public schools may face financial difficulties as a result of the voucher system. According to Dictionary.com, a school voucher is “a government cash grant or tax credit for parents, equal to all or part of the cost of educating their child at an elementary or secondary school of their choice”. It may also be called an “educational voucher” or a “scholarship”. … Continue reading →

History of Anesthesia

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Surgical anesthesia makes many medical procedures possible — without anesthesia, many procedures would be too complicated or painful to perform on conscious patients. But for a long time, medical personnel didn’t have access to any sort of anesthesia. Before the 1840s, surgery was only attempted when it was absolutely necessary. Operations were mostly limited to amputations and removal of external growths. Most patients remained conscious and in pain during the procedure, though alcohol or drugs were sometimes used to help relieve discomfort. Can you imagine undergoing surgery wide awake with NO painkillers? I can’t. In 1846, a dentist demonstrated the … Continue reading →

Reality TV Updates: April 28, 2008

Big week for reality television as American Idol narrows them down, Big Brother finishes up, and a new show start. First up, American Idol whittled the contestants down to five as Irish beauty Carly Smithson was eliminated this week. There had been a bit of controversy over Carly as she had previously had a recording contract but managed to sell less than 500 copies and was dropped. She had good weeks and bad week on Idol this year, but this week was her final as she was the bottom vote getter over Syesha (who had an amazing performance – how … Continue reading →

15 “Steps” to Find the Right Education Program for Your Child

The path to find the right education program for your special son or daughter can be confusing. Many parents get lost, stuck, or just don’t know which way to go. Here is a map to help you find your way. (If your child is preschool-aged, he or she will benefit from early intervention.) 1. Get an accurate diagnosis. It’s absolutely vital that you understand whether your child has a specific learning disability, ADD/ADHD, an emotional disturbance, mental retardation, is gifted, falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, or has a mixture of several disorders. If you’re still searching for answers, follow … Continue reading →