The cost of treating autism can impoverish families. Health insurance is often inadequate when it comes to autism and other mental health issues. Parents are left to foot most of the bills. There are some state services available. Often, to qualify, a family must fall below certain income level.
Lack of treatment leads to unemployment and, in many cases, institutionalization at the public's expense.
The level of support in California diminished by $50 million. A fund used to treat young children with autism was cut as the state grapples with deficits. The money funded applied behavior analysis or ABA therapy. ABA therapy can cost around $40 thousand a year. It is unclear what will happen in 2014 when Obamacare takes effect.
To find out more, please link to the article posted by Voice of OC.
Funding for Autsim Therapy Cut in California
Comments to the article so far are pitting immigration reform groups against autism advocates. Can anything positive come from unconstructive arguments meant to distract and divide?
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Pollution and Autism
The cause of Autism has not been determined yet. Pollution is a primary suspect.
Moms for Clean Air has come up with a list of the top ten suspects among pollution as the cause (or causes) for autism.
When I was a child there were about 3.5 billion people on this earth. Today we are approaching 7 billion. The cumulative effect of chemicals and other pollutants on the air we breath and the water we drink is exponential. There are twice as many people spilling this stuff into our air and water supply. In developing countries like China, the production of pollutants seems unbridled. The air in their big cities is unbreathable. The stuff they're putting in the air does not stay contained at their borders. Combine their pollution production with our own and the consequences seem dire.
The complete suspect list of pollutants as causes for autism is at the Moms for Clean Air website.
I'm the Development and Marketing Coordinator for the FOCUS Center for Autism in Canton, Connecticut. FOCUS Center for Autism helps children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.
Moms for Clean Air has come up with a list of the top ten suspects among pollution as the cause (or causes) for autism.
Among the suspectsMoms have passion and power — an unbeatable combination. We are harnessing the strength of mother love to fight back against polluters.Moms are uniting to come out in strength for our kids’ right to clean air — just as our parents fought for us, forty years ago, to get the Clean Air Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Moms Clean Air Force is nonpartisan–because clean air should be more important than politics.- See more at: http://www.momscleanairforce.org/mission/#sthash.fZrPnWAU.dpuf
- Lead
- PCP's
- Mercury
- Insecticides
- DDT
- Automotive Exhaust
- Flame retardants
When I was a child there were about 3.5 billion people on this earth. Today we are approaching 7 billion. The cumulative effect of chemicals and other pollutants on the air we breath and the water we drink is exponential. There are twice as many people spilling this stuff into our air and water supply. In developing countries like China, the production of pollutants seems unbridled. The air in their big cities is unbreathable. The stuff they're putting in the air does not stay contained at their borders. Combine their pollution production with our own and the consequences seem dire.
The complete suspect list of pollutants as causes for autism is at the Moms for Clean Air website.
I'm the Development and Marketing Coordinator for the FOCUS Center for Autism in Canton, Connecticut. FOCUS Center for Autism helps children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
FOCUS Bikes the valley. Can you help?
More details of Bike The Valley have come out. They're looking for riders. So are we.
Bike the Valley is a new event for family riders and serious riders. The registration prices make this an affordable event that benefits the Y and several charities including FOCUS Center for Autism.
The registration goes to the Y to cover the costs. Additional gifts can be designated to the charities co-sponsoring the event. You can support FOCUS by riding and by giving an additional amount over an above the registration. So far, I'm the only rider in support of FOCUS. To help augment donations to FOCUS, I'm seeking riders and sponsors. Seven have stepped forward so far donating one or two dollars a mile for the ten miles I'll be riding.
Here are more details:
Bike the Valley is a new event for family riders and serious riders. The registration prices make this an affordable event that benefits the Y and several charities including FOCUS Center for Autism.
The registration goes to the Y to cover the costs. Additional gifts can be designated to the charities co-sponsoring the event. You can support FOCUS by riding and by giving an additional amount over an above the registration. So far, I'm the only rider in support of FOCUS. To help augment donations to FOCUS, I'm seeking riders and sponsors. Seven have stepped forward so far donating one or two dollars a mile for the ten miles I'll be riding.
FOCUS Center for Autism: helping children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.If you would like to support my ride, let me know. Contact me at kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism.org. You can also pledge to FOCUS on-line at http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus
Here are more details:
This is for families & serious riders!! Register by this Wednesday, 6/12 & get a free T-Shirt!!
HELP OTHERS BY RIDING IN OUR EVENT – BIKE, 5 OR 10 MILES ON RAILS TO TRAILS, ALONG THE BEAUTIFUL FARMINGTON RIVER!
BIKE 25, 50 OR 100 MILES - ALL RIDES HAVE REST-STOPS (with food and snacks), SAG-WAGONS, marked routes, etc. = FULL SUPPORT!!
All at YMCA CAMP CHASE on RT 4 in Burlington, 15 Canton Rd. between Unionville & Collinsville – The Camp will have "an open house" for all – come and enjoy the Pool, kids water pad, bike rodeo for kids, picnic (under cover; food from Max's and First & Last), showers for all riders, arts & crafts, wellness activities & more - - Including give-aways & raffles -
Join in on THE BAKE-OFF!! WIN A BIG PRIZE!! Open to all – Bake your favorite dessert – cookies, brownies, cakes, pies, cheese-cake, etc. Bring as much as you like & the riders will judge your entry!! Final vote goes to Stacia (a Y employee). No cost to you, open to kids & adults!! Just show up with your Dessert by 12:30!!
REGISTER:
Farmington Valley YMCA Home Page - Greater Hartford YMCA ...<http://ghymca.org/
BY CALLING THE Y 860-653-5524 Ask for Sam or just ask to register for the Y Bike the Valley Ride - or
ON ACTIVE: http://www.active.com/
Who do you "HELP" when you Ride? Register for our RIDE & make a donation to us:
FOCUS CENTER FOR AUTISM.
Register (see above) or donate $25.00, $50 or $100 now – mail donations to:
FOCUS
Checks payable to:
FOCUS Center for Autism or on-line at http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus
THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE BIG – BE A PART OF IT – HELP OTHERS WHILE YOU RIDE – PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY – BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION -
5 & 10 mile rides start at 11:30 am basically a flat route – all Paved!! ALL WITH FULLY SUPPLIED REST-STOPS!!!!
25 at 10:00 am 1,800 ft of climbing
50 at 8:30 am 4,200 ft of climbing
100 at 7:00 am 8,500 ft of climbing 100 mi check-in 6:15 am to 6:50 but Register now! Other distances, check in 45 to 10 minutes prior to their start
Lunch at about noon
Activities 10:30 to 3:30; Open House all day - -
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Riding for FOCUS - You can help
I'm gearing up for Bike the Valley on the 22nd. First ride in years. The last time I raced was in the late 60's. The last serious ride was in the 80's. I'm hoping to raise funds for FOCUS Center for Autism. I'm looking for sponsors. All funds will go to FOCUS. May I suggest a pledge of $1 per mile? (I'm only riding ten). All you have to do is pledge. I trust you.
FOCUS Center for Autism: helping children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.
I guess this makes me a spokes-person.
You can reply privately at kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism.org or through the link provided with this blog.
If you would like to ride, check out the event page at www.ghymca.org or on www.active.com.
The registration fee goes toward the cost of the event. You can designate any contribution over and above to the charities listed.
I'm raising money for FOCUS by asking for sponsors. You can contribute directly to FOCUS on-line if you wish.
http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus
FOCUS Center for Autism: helping children, adolescents and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders reach their full potential by providing clinical programs, community education and family support.
I guess this makes me a spokes-person.
You can reply privately at kim.grehn@focuscenterforautism.org or through the link provided with this blog.
If you would like to ride, check out the event page at www.ghymca.org or on www.active.com.
The registration fee goes toward the cost of the event. You can designate any contribution over and above to the charities listed.
I'm raising money for FOCUS by asking for sponsors. You can contribute directly to FOCUS on-line if you wish.
http://www.focuscenterforautism.org/supporting-focus
Monday, June 3, 2013
Autism Billboards Go Viral
But not in a good way
Sometimes putting messages out there to provoke a conversation can have negative consequences. With social media in play the consequences can have far reaching and negative consequences.
Efforts to get South Africa talking about Autism by Autism SA (ASA) backfired. ASA erected a series of billboards with statements meant to be conversation starter to help break down stereotypes. The billboards read, “Autism is for black people”, “Autism is for white people”, “Autism is for possessed people” and “Autism is for violent people”. ASA's Facebook page became inundated with negative comments.
The messages were presented with no context. They promoted stereotypes rather than starting and advancing the conversation. ASA lost control of the conversation from the beginning. Social media worked against them.
The billboards were pulled down. Click on the billboard below to read more.
http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/family/kids/autism-billboards-removed-after-outcry-1.1524373#.UaorXkCTiSo
Sometimes putting messages out there to provoke a conversation can have negative consequences. With social media in play the consequences can have far reaching and negative consequences.
Efforts to get South Africa talking about Autism by Autism SA (ASA) backfired. ASA erected a series of billboards with statements meant to be conversation starter to help break down stereotypes. The billboards read, “Autism is for black people”, “Autism is for white people”, “Autism is for possessed people” and “Autism is for violent people”. ASA's Facebook page became inundated with negative comments.
The messages were presented with no context. They promoted stereotypes rather than starting and advancing the conversation. ASA lost control of the conversation from the beginning. Social media worked against them.
The billboards were pulled down. Click on the billboard below to read more.
http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/family/kids/autism-billboards-removed-after-outcry-1.1524373#.UaorXkCTiSo
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