Autism numbers are on the rise, and local autism advocates are pushing for expanded services for those affected by the social disorders and their families.
Pathfinders for Autism and local chapters of the Autism Society of America asked the House Education and Business Economic Development Subcommittee to consider increasing the number of individuals currently served by the Autism Waiver on Monday.
There are plenty of folks who won?t receive service.
When a spot opens up, they lose their eligibility. The program is for school-age children.
“So many insurance companies do not cover these services,” Pathfinders spokeswoman Rebecca Rienzi said. “A lot of the therapies that have been shown to work are still considered experimental. This can be a godsend in these children?s lives.”
The effort, led by individual families and The Arc of Maryland, seeks greater access to services designed to help families keep children with autism at home instead of in an institution.
Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies indicated that between 1 in 500 children and 1 in 166 children have some form of the developmental disability defined by considerable impairments in social interaction and communication, and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests.
Previous estimates for decades indicated about four or five cases per 10,000 people.
“Our estimates are becoming better and more consistent, though we can?t yet tell if there is a true increase in [autism] or if the changes are the result of our better studies,” CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said in a statement. “We do know, however, that these disorders are affecting too many children.”
The CDC reported most children with autism spectrum disorders showed developmental concerns before age 3.
Individuals can be diagnosed as early as 18 months of age and last throughout a person?s life. Autism spectrum disorders include autism, pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger syndrome.
The Autism Waiver serves 900 families and, despite increases in children being diagnosed with Autism each year, Waiver slots have not expanded since 2003. This forces more than 1,800 families to wait on a registry.
