A great way to bring in the new year…go vote!
It isn’t perfect, and there are things I would add to it, especially to protect the rights of autistic adults (like including autistics on the panel suggested in #12), but it is a serious step in the right direction.
As a country we have watched Autism Spectrum Disorders grow in a devastating number. Over the last decade it has spiraled so quickly out of control that:
1.) There must not just be one person but an ENTIRE U.S. OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE for Educating Children with Autism.
2.) The use of Time Out Rooms, Corporal punishments, Restraints, and the high amount of Abuse must be monitored with severe penalties to states and fines or conviction of those that break such a REFORM Law.
3.) School Districts/States must each have an ” Office of Autism Education Compliance or be subject to loss of Federal Funding.
4.) Due Process Hearing Officers must NOT be employees of the state and shall be employed by the Federal Government ONLY.
5.) Insurance companies MUST provide the Early Interventions such as ABA Discreet Trial at no cost to parents.
6.) Protection and Advocacy MUST be funded properly to allow parents that need help get it without any more then a 15 day waiting period.
7.) Grants for research, education, and non profit organizations for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders must be made in the amount of 5 billion dollars.
8.) Relief for parents who have paid out of pocket to educate their children must be made swiftly with 100% reimbursement.
9.) Behavior Intervention Plans must accompany all Individual Education Plans.
10.) Insurance companies must make available all resources for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders including but not limited to any items deemed necessary by the physician for the treatment of metal toxicities and any other theraputic orders their physician may order.
11.) The Autism Reform Act shall consider all Autism Spectrum Disorders including Aspergers.
12.) This Reform Act must be ‘open’ for additions as needed and create a 12 parent panel to propose such additions.
- Michael Robinson (Founder The Office of Advocacy), Wahiawa, HI
I’d love if somehow it would include all developmentally delayed/disabled kids.
I totally agree. I picked this “cause” to support as much because it was the one that has the best chance of staying “in the running” as the actual content. The content isn’t perfect, IMO, but it was the closest to what I wanted that had more than a pittance of votes.