| Autism is on the rise. This is an undisputed fact. If | | | | It leads to little time off for the parent of an |
| 1 in 150 children are currently developing Autism | | | | Autistic child. Their caregivers need to be |
| annually, then that is 1 too many. It is, quite | | | | specialized and a lot of times very familiar with |
| frankly, a horrible debilitating condition. Not just for | | | | the child to understand their non verbal cues. |
| the Autistic child, but devastating for the entire | | | | Approximately 40-50% of Autistic children will |
| family. It requires adjustment from all members | | | | never speak. This leads to a great deal of |
| of the family as all aspects of everyone's lives will | | | | frustration in a child with Autism. A caregiver or |
| undergo a massive upheaval. | | | | parent who is tuned into the child is able to |
| The cost of raising a child with Autism is | | | | alleviate this by having more of an idea what it is |
| astronomical. ABA treatments average around | | | | the child is asking for when they indicate. This |
| 100,000 dollars per annum. The major insurance | | | | means that in a two parent family, the parents |
| companies baulk at paying to help recover the | | | | often take turns in staying with the child thereby |
| Autistic child so parents are looking at being out | | | | leaving little time for them as a couple. |
| of pocket at about 50,000 dollars. Even in a well | | | | In a home where there is only one parent it is |
| paid two income family, this is still high. And notice | | | | both exhausting and socially isolating. Sometimes it |
| I said major insurance companies. Some families | | | | is next to impossible for the child with Autism to |
| with Autistic children are having to fight to obtain | | | | go out. They don't respond to a change in routine, |
| simple coverage for their impaired child, never | | | | loud noises or a lot of people can set off an |
| mind attempting to get the insurance companies | | | | Autistic behaviour such as screaming and/or |
| to pay for recognised treatments. | | | | flapping. |
| In a lot of families, it is impossible to have two | | | | Also, although the public awareness of Autism has |
| parents working. One may have to give up their | | | | been increasing of late, there are still people who |
| position to stay at home and look after the child. | | | | will look at you in the store and tell you to |
| Autistic children require a lot of time and attention. | | | | "control your child" when they are absolutely |
| Safety is a big issue and their homes may have | | | | having a lay down on the floor, kicking, screaming |
| to be reorganised to accomodate the different | | | | and flailing meltdown because the lights in the |
| Autistic behaviours that the child may exhibit. | | | | store are too bright. Good luck there. |
| If the family chooses to go the Alternative | | | | A lot of changes do have to be made. Some |
| Medicine route, all of this will have to be paid out | | | | actually for the better. It can make the family unit |
| of pocket as if it is not recognized by the Medical | | | | stronger. It can enable you to raise siblings of |
| world, then it is not an accepted practice. | | | | Autistic children to be compassionate, kinder, |
| Currently, you would be hard pressed to find a | | | | more well-rounded individuals. It can introduce you |
| physician to acknowledge that there are any | | | | to the other side of the coin and you can become |
| treatments for Autism that don't involve | | | | more patient and tolerant of people and families |
| medicating to control Autistic behaviours. | | | | with disabilities. |
| Other siblings may need to adjust to the amount | | | | It may also make you as a person more vocal to |
| of time required to care for the Autistic child and | | | | advocate for families with Autistic children so they |
| the fact that sometimes they are unable to do | | | | do recieve some kind of financial aid and the |
| things or go on outings due to the fact that their | | | | medical world does start to recognize more |
| Autistic brother or sister would not be able to | | | | Alternative forms of healing for the child with |
| handle it can lead to a bit of resentment. | | | | Autism thereby making insurance companies |
| Also due to some Autistic behaviours, | | | | responsible, at least in part for payment. |
| unfortunately despite parents best attempts to | | | | A lot of changes are going to have to be made |
| prevent it, some articles precious to the | | | | not just to the family with the Autistic child, but, |
| unaffected child may get destroyed or ruined. | | | | to the community and the world at large. |