Fired from DADS, because autism is not a serious health condition...

[Guest guest]

After months of fighting for my son, who was diagnosed with autism 18 months,

the Dept of Aging and Disability as terminated my employment because I had to

take him to and from his therapy sessions. Initially I was told that my FMLA

request was denied and that I could not reapply, but after I challenged that

decision I was able to reapply (with the help of my son's physicians). The same

day the doctor faxed the new FMLA certification, I was fired so HR could avoid

acknowledging the new request. The maximum amount of hours a parent is allowed

is 1250, I was only requesting 490.

This is very heartbreaking for my family and I, especially my son. Now that I

have been fired my son will have to discontinue his therapy because I will not

have coverage from BCBS. I will not bad mouth the agency because during my

employment I had the pleasure to help many parents find resources to get help

for their newly diagnosed children. Its unfortunate that HR and my management

could not recognize autism as a health condition when my son could not speak a

year ago or raise his arms above his head. This is after HR told me " I don't

really know that much about autism " and compared it to asthma.

I will continue to fight for my son and the right to have autism recognized as a

health condition. I am determined to make his voice heard through mine.