Services for Autistic children under attack by Gov. Schwarzenegger !!

Marty Omoto, Legislative Director | 12/04/03 | pollywog

[alnick]

A day in the life of a severely autistic adult would change a lot of Freepers ideas on services for autism

There are a lot of people diagnosed with some mild form of autism, so many people don't have any idea what's involved with caring for someone who is severely autistic.

[pollywog]

Polly, I'll be praying for you and your family. I knew there would be a cold reaction by some who are fortunate enough to not know the first thing about this topic. Hang in there.

I know this is drastic, but have you considered relocating to another state?

Actually, up until now, California has been one of the states that has had the most resources for those suffering with this plight. There are many right now with autistic children here in California that have rallied and are going to put the pressure on our government to at the least keep the resources we currently have. ( I believe someone posted a note to this effect last night.) We will know within the next few days just how this will effect us come January 2004.

[sunryse]

>What? Illegals don't have autistic kids?

I'm sure they do. What does that have to do with anything?LOL

[luckydevi]

Throught voluntary means not thorough force.

[FreedomCalls]

as a Christian nation we have a duty and responsibility to care for each other

We have a duty and responsibility to care for each other through our networks of family, friends, churches, and charitable organizations. It is not the responsibility of government lessen your "stresses" or to make you comfortable. Your family, friends, and church are always there when you need them. Why not ask them for assistance? Should you run to the government for every ailment that befalls you?

[FreedomCalls]

in sum, my toast to you, "may you life end in a gutter." by that I mean, may your family die before you, social security go bust, and that you go blind and are left to die in a gutter by FreedomCalls II

Wow! I guess you did not buy into the "compassionate conservative" side of the Republican Party. All I want is for people to seek assistance from family, friends, and their church before running to the government for money. That's not asking for much. The fact that asking for that simple act would generate so much vitriol from you shows how ingrained we have become to sucking on the government teat instead of helping each other. I suspect you are a lost cause to conservatism, but I always hope you can see the light. In this 2003rd Christmas season I ask that you think of helping someone else this winter in some way (even if they don't ask) to see what joy that small acts of kindness can bring you. Don't assume that everyone gets everything they need from the government. I will pray that the rage that lives in you can be diminished. May God bless.

[FreedomCalls]

I certainly do _not_ want a sleep deprived elderly individual driving and risking _my_ neck on the road.

Driving 200 miles was the "worst case" scenario. First one should ask for assistance from family, friends, your church, and charities. Then if they can't help, try for government assistance. If that is not available, you can't move closer to medical treatment, your insurance money has ran out, you've sold all your expensive possessions, and still can't get the treatment you need, -- then, then I would suggest someone drive 200 miles to a doctor. It's not a solution for everyone.

To address your point precisely, the vast rural America is filled with elderly who drive long distances to get to essential services. Do you want everyone to live in the city?

[FreedomCalls]

My hope is that the need will open the eyes of the Churches and Communities and that we will see organizations open up and rally to the need across the country.

Yes!! That is exactly what we need to happen. My town has a several monthly support groups that meet so that people can share their experiences and help each other. There are ones for cancer, diabetes, MS, and several others that meet at several of the churches in town. We get along just fine with minimal government intervention.

[John Lenin]

As a christian nation we do not have the right to pass off the costs of every health problem imaginable on other people who are barely able to make ends meet for themselves. What a pathetic guilt trip you are trying to lay on us.

[FreedomCalls]

The bottom line is that government isn't God despite some people's expectations.

It seems there are plenty of people ready to pray to government rather than praying to God. I always thought the Democrats looked at government as a quasi-religion, but given that so many people think that way here on what is a conservative forum, it will be more difficult than I thought to wean people off of it.

[Little Ray]

Ain't that sorta like Communism? "From each according his ability, to each according to his need?"

[utahagen]

I support cutting these programs for disabled children because I think we have to trim every program across the board. However, if the federal or state government offers programs for disabled children, there should not be a means test. Here's why: medical costs (defined broadly, to include physical therapy, etc.) are usually subsidized by a government or an insurance company, so that the quoted prices for anything medical are astronomical. This being the case, a family with a handicapped child could run up hundreds thousands of dollars if they were being billed directly for the services. Only the mega-wealthy could absorb costs like these, leaving the merely "rich" without sufficient funds to pay for the programs, yet unable to qualify for government programs. Tough luck, you say? Well, I think you could make a strong libertarian argument that these programs should not exist in the first place, but as long as they do exist, if there is a means test, you'll have the merely rich folks paying for the poor folks via exhorbitant taxes, yet these taxpayers would themselves neither qualify for the programs nor be able to afford private care that would rival what the poor folks would get gratis. (Yes, I know, "rich" folks should have private insurance, but insurance companies are far less generous than the government when it comes to paying for things like a social worker to shadow each autistic child at school every day. Again, I'm not defending such programs in the first place; I'm just saying that if taxpayers are going to offer them to anyone, let's not screw a guy who's "rich" because he makes 100k a year, but has four kids, one of whom is disabled.)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

But, if you mean the RICH, then it is different.

The really wealthy would find the best in the nation to meet their child's needs, and give no thought to the money spent.

When it comes to all of these tax funded programs, there should be cuts across the board, if California is ever to become solvent.

And besides, this looks more like a freeze, than a cut, to me.

I understand Freeper pollywog's concern. And yet, I do think there must be multiple programs that she can access to assist her and her family. I would be digging deep and hard, for any information I could find, not just railing against the governor.

[jimt]

who cares. as a christian nation we have a duty and responsibilty to care for each other.

Through charity, yes. Through theft at gunpoint (taxation), no.

[CajunConservative]

Can you afford to hire a college student who is majoring in a social services related field maybe even in your church? Sometimes they come real cheap and are very enthusiastic and need experience in their field. There are other options out there it just takes a while to get our brains churning out ideas.

[pollywog]

Cajun, we certainly could afford that. We have tried. You cannot get anyone to handle a 180lb autistic client that tantrums !! It usually takes a trained person who has been through classes. It really is a lot different that " babysitting". These adults are severe in their tantrums and behaviors.

[pollywog]

Upon further investigation I found out that Lanterman was being investigated by the state for numerous waste, fraud, and abuse issues.

When a state bureaucrat says it is for the children, look deeper than the headlines. I think this why they got shut down.

Straight Pipes, I know you are right. There is so much waste and abuse. Most of the tax payer dollars are spent on the top of the pile bureaucrats! But that sure doesn't change the fact that we down here on the bottom getting squished, are still in need. What to do, I haven't a clue. Perhaps we need some real serious investigation going on!!

[CajunConservative]

Cajun, we certainly could afford that. We have tried. You cannot get anyone to handle a 180lb autistic client that tantrums !! It usually takes a trained person who has been through classes. It really is a lot different that " babysitting". These adults are severe in their tantrums and behaviors.

I am fully aware of the difficulties of autism. I have been a case manager and worked in social services for over 10 years. There are older college students who are mature enough to handle the training needed to be a good caregiver. Look in nursing departments, lots of big strong men are in that field. Talk with a non profit agency service provider who has to train folks and see if there is a way a group of you parents could offer a training in service program for persons who would be good respite workers. I know it's frustrating and frightening but I am just throwing out ideas that might be useful.

If you can afford it then why can't you hire any of the workers who may lose their jobs with the budget cuts? There ARE people out there who can help even if it's not exactly what you are receiving now, any relief is better than none.

Are any of the other parents financially able to afford hiring private help too? What if you all formed your own "agency" where you served as a central point of service.

I guess what I am saying is you know what is needed, the other parents know what works and what doesn't, make a list of those requirements and advocate for your family members with autism.

Sorry for the ramble. Just some ideas that's all.