Pentagon needs help from Military Families with Children with Autism

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASO:

Important information for military families with children with autism. A great opportunity to provide input and feedback. Contact information follows my signature (see bold below). FYI - please share.

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikPresidentAutism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or impiled.

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http://www.marinetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2396091.php Pentagon looks to meet needs of autistic kids By Gayle S. Putrich The Pentagon needs help from military families with autisticchildren to create a new segment of its Extended Care Health Option(ECHO) program. Under the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, Congress is requiringthe Defense Department to create a new action plan under the existingECHO program to provide more and better services for families withautistic children. Tricare officials are now reaching out to such families forsuggestions on what kind of education, training and supervisoryrequirements caregivers should have. Input is also needed to help setstandards for caregiver training and ways to ensure children on allpoints of the autism spectrum receive the care they need thoughTricare and ECHO programs in concert with other publicly providedservices. Any military family members with suggestions can email the TricareManagement Activity at ChildrenWithAutisim@... through the endof 2007. "It is vital we learn about affected beneficiaries and theirpersonal experiences, so Tricare may better meet their needs," saidArmy Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the TricareManagement Activity. "We look forward to expanding available treatmentoptions and access to care for beneficiaries with autism." Autistic children in military families currently are covered foronly a handful of treatments, including Applied Behavioral Analysis.Tricare covers up to $2,500 of the hands-on therapy, with a co-pay, aslong as the treatment is administered by a certified provider whomeets qualifications. Uncertified caregivers are not covered, even if properlysupervised. Tricare will share the cost of training if a family memberwants to become certified. According to the Autism Society of America, one in every 166children is born with some form of autism, considered the"fastest-growing developmental disability" in the U.S., up 172 percentsince 1990. But researchers also say that early diagnosis and intervention cancut the lifelong cost of care for those with autism by two-thirds.