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

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

[Weimdog]

No disrespect but 21,00 out of 35 million is not an epidemic.

"Autism is the fastest growing disability served by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS), affecting more than 21,000 persons in California"

"The rate of growth in the population of persons with autism in California is commensurate with reported increases in other states, such as Georgia, Massachusetts and Minnesota."

http://www.dds.cahwnet.gov/autism/autism_main.cfm

[pollywog]

no offense taken Tempest. As you can tell , this is directly effecting so many that I know as well as our family. My nephew has a 19 year old severely autistic/non verbal son. His marriage has ended on the rocks from the constant stress and tension. Our granddaughter is Aspergers ( a form of autism).My daughter's home is constantly filled with stress with the outbursts and tantrums of our granddaughter. Our son often goes into fits and breaks things, causing much tension here in our home. Autism is one of the hardest handicaps to deal with.

[Al Simmons]

*BUMP*!! WELL_SAID!

[Sabertooth]

I will say again, I am AGAINST big spending! I am against wasteful spending. But disabilities and the helpless are another story in my books!!

So, you're against the big spending that doesn't benefit you and yours.

[Tactical]

Yes, I agree with that point. I personally have Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. I have also worked with autistic children, so I have a soft spot for them. However, I understand that free lunches don't exist, and that we can have those services privately (at lower cost and higher quality). Services aren't truly essential, because as self-governed people, we have the responsibility and right to find and cover our own services (which can be done at low cost if we let each private service have its own system).

Californian's can look next door at the state of Arizona. Great state, lousy programs for Developmentally Disabled kids.

They might help cover some expenses, but the state offers no such programs and they tell you to find a private company to handle the needed program. However, those programs are full and the outlying regions don't get those services. Great if you live in PHX or Tucson, screw Yuma or some other outlying county.

Our Autistic 7 yr old son just got authorized for physical therapy we requested help with 2 years ago. Great, know any PT's that will drive 200 miles to handle that therapy? We don't.

California has many programs of excessive spending, free schooling for illegals first comes to mind. Then there those special teachers for English as a Second Language classes mandated there too. Hmmm...wonder where the speech therapists are for Autistic kids. Maybe California's cutbacks will cause some to move to Arizona?

I think we're all on the same side, less taxes, balanced budgets and all, but there are truly people of really special needs that shouldn't get cut first. Let's save them for last in line and only in a HAVE TO situation.

[FreedomCalls]

Autism is one of the hardest handicaps to deal with.

And people never dealt with autism before the government took over?

His marriage has ended on the rocks from the constant stress and tension. ... Our son often goes into fits and breaks things, causing much tension here in our home.

Tension used to be called "life." You cannot expect the government to step in to guarantee you a stress-free lifestyle.

[Eva]

This program needs to be income based. Middle class parents should qualify, wealthy should not.

[pollywog]

You said it so well Tactical. And from one who understands. I have friends in Ariz. that have autistic children and I hear the same thing.

[FreedomCalls]

Our Autistic 7 yr old son just got authorized for physical therapy we requested help with 2 years ago. Great, know any PT's that will drive 200 miles to handle that therapy? We don't.

If he were my son, I would drive him the 200 miles to the therapist. Why can't you? Here in West Texas, we think nothing of driving 250 miles just to go shopping or to eat at an Olive Garden for goodness' sakes.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

BTW did they ever remove the luxury phone tax imposed as a temporary measure during the Spanish American war.

I was told they did.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Means testing is called for, absolutely!

[Cinnamon Girl]

Have you called the Governor's office to double check what exactly is being proposed for cutting? I haven't heard specifics discussed yet. I am sympathetic to families with disabled children and I wonder if, like the educational system, most of the money is going to bureaucrats and administrators and not to the children.

[pollywog]

perhaps you can volunteer sometime to help a parent out with a autistic child. I think you would then realize the there is " stress" in life, which we ALL HAVE....and then there is " stress with autism"! In a totally different ballpark friend!

[pollywog]

f he were my son, I would drive him the 200 miles to the therapist. Why can't you? Here in West Texas, we think nothing of driving 250 miles just to go shopping or to eat at an Olive Garden for goodness' sakes.

unreal! Drive once or twice a week 200 miles for therapy on TOP of dealing with autism?

[elli1]

I'm curious about what other benefits you're collecting for these kids. Like SSI...

[Siamese Princess]

How did autistic people get along BEFORE the government teat was there for everyone to suck on? Since humans have walked on this earth there have been people with autism -- the government only started mucking around with this since the 1960s.

Most autistic people suffer from fits, though they are not epileptic. Perhaps they normally died young before the invention of all kinds of medicines.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

In "liberalese", a freeze is a cut.

[elli1]

"...elimination of the In-Home Supportive Services residual program which employs parents and other family members to provide assistance to family members with disabilities."------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Employs parents to provide assistance to family members? Really? How much? Should every new mom & dad get paid to stay home & take care of their infant? And for how long?

[pollywog]

I'm curious about what other benefits you're collecting for these kids. Like SSI...

I get the sense from this post that you are assuming we are making a " kill" on government money here!! Nothing could be further from the truth. SSI comes to most disabled adults. I can tell you it is probably the best tax dollars we spend. I KNOW there are those collecting SSI that have NO business doing so.I UNDERSTAND this fully. But the ones that need it, the hurting ones are going to be the ones that suffer from these " cuts" or " freezes" what ever ya want to call it.

[FreedomCalls]

Have you asked anyone from you church to help out? I'm sure they would be more than happy to assist. I'll bet that you haven't. Your knee-jerk reaction is to run to the government teat. You haven't even thought of asking at your church. You are a member of a church are you not? I'm beginning to doubt whether you are. That's is what churches are for after all. When you give money to the Salvation Army in front of Wal-Mart or put it in the offering plate on Sunday -- where do you think the money goes? If you need assistance your fellow church members will assist. If you need a therapist your church will help you find one. If you need, truly NEED, monetary assistance, you church will provide that as well. If on the other hand, you just want a stress-free lifestyle so you can chill out on the chaise-lounge sipping daiquiris while you hire someone else to deal with your life's problems -- then your church may not be sympathetic. I just had a relative go through cancer chemotherapy, which is no day at the park, and our church stepped in for much of what we needed.