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Comments

Autism worries? AutismCares

by Patricia

The response to Beth Finke’s blog about families with autism having lower incomes has been humbling. As a professional working in autism service delivery I am well aware of the ADDITIONAL expenses families incur when they have a child with autism. Therapies are expensive, specialized childcare may be necessary, adaptive equipment is costly … when families with autism have fewer funds to draw on, it just adds to the challenge of caring for a child with autism.

AutismCares is stepping up with “Family Support Awards” to help families with autism. From their website:

Family Support Awards

AutismCares provides Family Support Awards for the costs associated with housing, insurance premiums, medical care, prescriptions, daycare, automobile repair, funeral expenses and other items or events for eligible families on a case-by-case basis. Payments are made directly to the vendor providing the services.

Family Support Awards will not exceed $1,500 per family. The support is modest, but clearly this group is attempting to address the needs so eloquently portrayed by the number of respondents to Beth’s blog.


 

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  1. Lora Williams Says:

    May 27th, 2008 at 6:38 am

    I am a parent of a child with Asperger’s and a licensed social worker. I know too well how difficult it is for families to not only adapt their professional lives to their child’s disability but also their personal lives. In the last 13 years we have wanted to live like typical famlies: enroll our child in school, take family vacations, participate in community events, etc. However, everything that we do must be adjusted to the needs of our child. My child can become aggitated easily and become rather loud in public. This makes planning a real key in making events a success. Over the Memorial Day weekend we went camping (this was a risky adventure!) and were delighted that this event was a success for my daughter. Sometimes we have tried events that we knew were risky public “outtings”, but we have come to believe that our daughter deserves the chance to experience life as others do. Our world needs to be more tolerant of individuals with disabilites and learn to support and not stare, condemn, or judge. We have endured our share of all three, but are thankful for the successes like this weekend when they come.