It's funny how an aritcle or news of a law can trigger a memory. Today, such an article I read, brought back such a great memory. I was 20 years old and the base I was stationed at played host to the Special Olympics that year. Hearing this, I took a days leave and volunteered to be a "hugger". If, you're not aware of what a hugger does, it's spend the day with the person and provide encouragement and hugs.
When I arrived, we waited to receive our "ward", there were three of us left, two friends and myself. A couple had brought back a little girl, cute little thing, blonde hair in pig tails and a big, beautiful smile. She was six years old. Apparently, she was a little to "spirited" for the couple to handle and the three of us were asked to be huggers for this one little girl.
Follow me while I tell you about my day with "Jenny" and why Ryan's Law is important for kids like her and her family.
I understood quickly why Jenny was considered spirited. Jenny was autistic, bright as a whip and for the most part good natured. However, one of the "effects" of her autism, was when she got excited, scared or overwhelm, she became a little violent. I knew this first hand, because I was hit, scratched and kicked. when she didn't want to do anything. I could see why few were wary to be her companions, but I wasn't going to let this little girl down. So instead of being frustrated with her, I pulled her into my lap, and let her hit me and scratch me, while I hugged her and got her trusting me enough to calm her down.
In the end, it ended up being a great day for Jenny and myself, and a much needed break for her mother, whom I got to talk to during the day. Jenny's mom was divorced, Jenny's autism drove a wedge in their marriage. She struggled financially and emotionally, constantly exhausted and utilized every resource. So today, when I was reading the articles regarding South Carolina's Autism Insurance Law, aka Ryan's Law, I smiled and though of Jenny and her mother. Jenny would be 21 today, so she wouldn't be eligible for Ryan's Law, however, now children like her and their parents have one less thing to worry about.
It was on June 7, 2007 that parents and their children with autism, sat in the gallery of the South Carolina House. They were there to listen to
the discussion, heard the vote and in the end, were met with a round of applause from the SC lawmakers, as a 114-0 vote, over rode Governor Mark Sanfords (R) veto. Just prior to that, the SC Senate voted unanimously, to override the Governor's veto of the same bill passed by the Senate. The Autism Insurance Bill became law on this day.
What does the Autism Insurance Law do? According to the article South Carolina Autism Insurance Bill Passed, from Autism Speaks,
The South Carolina autism insurance initiative will require insurance companies in the state to provide medical coverage for persons who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age eight, with continuing coverage through sixteen years of age for treatments prescribed by a medical doctor. Included is coverage for behavioral therapy up to $50,000 a year. This bill is a compromise bill on which the South Carolina autism community and the South Carolina insurance industry have agreed. This is one of the most extensive autism insurance mandates in the country to date.
Imagine, not being able to have your child insured because they have a development disorder. Families with autistic children face not only emotional struggles, but also financial struggles, especially if there is no insurance or outside help. Since there is no cure, the family can only focus on treatment. According to the Autism Fact Sheet from theNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, treatments include:
There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
- Educational/behavioral interventions: Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.
- Medications: Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity.
- Other therapies: There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments.
Kudo's to the families driving this bill, the South Carolina lawmakers who introduced and fought for this bill and to the SC Legislature for making the law unanimously. In the effort for healthcare reform, it's not just about cutting the cost of health insurance, but providing the capabilities for EVERYONE to be able to obtain it.