Autism bill likely to pass in Wisconsin
by Bob
I’m so excited to share news from the great state of Wisconsin! We have a governor and legislature that will vote to cover autism through health insurance — it’s one of the first action items of the new legislature. The passage of this bill means that the current waiting list for autism treatment can be cut by one third. That would provide more kids access to the services they deserve — sooner.
I was able to meet with staff from the speaker of the assembly’s office, and the one thing that struck me from that visit was his view that this could have happened earlier if the autism community had been unified. In the last session, various professional, therapeutic and parent groups split. This caused confusion among the legislators. They were not sure. Who should they believe? What was the best course of action? As a result, the bill failed the last time it came up.
To me that was an important reminder. We need to speak with a unified voice that educates elected officials on the needs of families living with autism. We also need to realize how vital it is that we find ways to bridge gaps in communication between groups — and find common ground. We all have a special obligation to the children of our state, and Governor Doyle’s proposal will help provide the care and support children living with autism need and deserve!