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Military Parents Battle the System to Help Their Autistic Children

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I am really sorry about this problem, but I have all kinds of issues with these families asking for MY money. I have family in the military and it chaps my a$$ that EVERYTHING, well almost, is given to them. I am also a pharmacist that has worked for a VA Facility and have seen the carloads of medication given to them at little or NO charge.
I appreciate what ACTIVE duty personnel do for me and my country. However, maybe instead of begging for civilians to donate our money, these people should ask each other for a donation. Civilians have to pay, many times , unbelievably high premiums and copays for our healthcare. It is ridiculous to ask for money from the civilian population. I mean........REALLY?????????
I don't mean to sound like a heartless bitch, but I know many people that can't afford the specialized care THEIR OWN AUTISTIC CHILD needs!
You people need to figure out another plan.

S S of GA 9:19PM February 18, 2012

Join us on Facebook! We are many families in the EFMP that are in a similar situation. http://www.facebook.com/groups/EMFPSupport/#!/groups/EMFPSupport/186630218080266/

Rosemary of WA 10:26PM November 03, 2011

My 10 year old grandson was diagnosed w/ Asperger around the age of four when he started preschool. Alabama has reached out to my son's family to provide a special education teacher for him. He has made minimal progress in school andwas held back a year.His problem is asperger w/ reading and math disability. How do you teach a child w/ Asperger and learning disabilities. I feel the school administer is interested in providing an education for my grandson. His Dr. wants to add the medication Conserta to help w/ the learning disabilities. Can you respond w/ your thoughts about the use of Conserta.

Betty Lukens of TX 6:47PM February 26, 2010

I'm in the same boat. We are in the family plan and in ECHO. Both my kids are on the spectrum. WE have a decent IEP for both kids. School services OT,SP, behavior plan, resource and my pre-schooler with above services ABA and extended pre-school.They also get home ABA and OT but not speech not enough staff............ Military handlers didn't even bother looking at our 3 state moving choices or our Kids needs. We're waiting for the orders to DC and we're going to fight it. You can't expect a child to wait for months for on basic base services and expect 2 siblings kids to go different counties for education! We may loose our home services! I wish these personal would work with parents and instead of pushing people into areas with no services!

Amby of CO 4:29PM October 09, 2009

Well I am Ottawa, Canada and the care is no better up here. There is a tremendous waiting list for up to 6 months to see a OT for 1 hour a week. The special education school is private which is 71K a year, which the State Dept is having a hard time to approve the funding. Right now, I am in the process of asking for an reassignment to a location where they offer agressive care. Does anyone know military locations that have the facilities for OT (3 to 5 times) a week, ST (5 times a week) and special education program for at least 20 hours a week.

Capt USAF 6:35PM July 24, 2009

After being retired of the military Tricare Echo was not able to provide same services. There should be equality among the service members retired or not. If our insurance will not comply with the problem, School systems have to aknowledge the problem not being able to teach and hire specialist or learn from them. Parents should not have to worry about the quality of education regardless if the kids are healthy or not.

A.L. of CA 12:27AM March 17, 2009

I feel better knowing.I'm not the only one. Where were stationed None of them have any kids with disabilities. They have no idea what is like to have to fight the schools none stop and spend years trying to get services like OT, SP, AND ABA in this 1 state. The state were at is rated 49(will be 50 this year, as the worst for sped). We only get 3 hrs a week because of shorted staff for ABA and speech we're on a waiting list. Another thing because the state is short OT, ABA etc. The services are on the the short end of the stick too. The OT and ABA and school are trained on working with potty training but none of them will lift a finger! So I keep trying at home.

Tammy of CO 10:39AM February 19, 2009

I AGREE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD SUPPORT HELP FOR PATIENTS
WITH AUTISM.I HAVE A LITTLE FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WITH
AUTISM AND I FEEL IN MY HEART IF WE CAN SUPPORT OTHER ILLNESS
WE SHOULD HELP THE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO ARE AUTISTIC AS IT
IS NOT ONLY HARD ON THE CHILDREN IT IS HARD ON THE PARENTS
EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING BY BEST TO
CALL MY CONGRESSMAN AND MY SENATORS IN MY DISTRICT TO HELP WITH
THIS PROBLEM

VIOLA CANNON of KS 8:41PM February 16, 2009

I agree the sooner that you get help for your children the better off they are in the long run. Coming from a mother of twins with Aspherger's (a form of autism)you wouldn't believe the difference in them since they recieved therapy and were put into a special needs school. One is actually able to socialize with people outside of his tight little group on a farly good level and may even be able to adventulay be on his own. Where as the other will always be at home with us but at least he is able to express some things and can tell us what is wrong even when he doesn't understand it. If it wasn't for myself and the doctor's fighting with the school system to get them the extra help they needed then and still need I don't know what I would of done. To top that off I am not in the military nor is my spouse, but it is a battle and noone wants to deal with it or help.
I have come across a few other families dealing with the same issues and always pass along my experiences. If it helps another child to get help faster then the battle that I went throught to get my sons help is helping others also.
Keep up the fight our children deserve to get the best help that they can to be able to advance as far as they possibly can. You may be surprised as to what they can do when someone gives them a chance.

Tracy M of IL 8:42PM January 19, 2009

I agree the sooner that you get help for your children the better off they are in the long run. Coming from a mother of twins with Aspherger's (a form of autism)you wouldn't believe the difference in them since they recieved therapy and were put into a special needs school. One is actually able to socialize with people outside of his tight little group on a farly good level and may even be able to adventulay be on his own. Where as the other will always be at home with us but at least he is able to express some things and can tell us what is wrong even when he doesn't understand it. If it wasn't for myself and the doctor's fighting with the school system to get them the extra help they needed then and still need I don't know what I would of done. To top that off I am not in the military nor is my spouse, but it is a battle and noone wants to deal with it or help.
I have come across a few other families dealing with the same issues and always pass along my experiences. If it helps another child to get help faster then the battle that I went throught to get my sons help is helping others also.
Keep up the fight our children deserve to get the best help that they can to be able to advance as far as they possibly can. You may be surprised as to what they can do when someone gives them a chance.

Tracy M of IL 8:42PM January 19, 2009