Pentagon looks to meet needs of autistic kids

[Guest guest]

The below posting came from my local ASA group, but it was also

referenced here as well. I have composed a letter for families to use

to respond to the request for input. I passed it by Dr. Sheely and

got her blessing to post it, so I'm uploading to the files section

under " Tricare Military Family Response " . Please feel free to send

to other groups. Here is a copy of the text:

We are a military family with a child with autism. Our (son/daughter)

is now ___ years old. (Add a brief description of the child) We are

grateful for Tri Care's support for ABA. However, although ABA can

make a big difference in a child's behavior, and can help the child

learn specific skills, it is NOT focused on our child's adult quality

of life.

RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) is the intervention we

believe our (son/daughter) needs to have the best chance for a

successful adult life. RDI is a parent teaching model provided by

Certified Consultants that initially focuses on our child's

relationship with us…(his/her) parents. What we can learn through

RDI will help remediate our child's core autism deficits and enable

(him/her) to have what every parent wants for a child: a good

education, a job, friends and a family. RDI focuses on exactly those

processes required to meet those goals.

We so much want to be the best parent possible for our child. We

believe that RDI is the intervention that is most likely to help us

achieve that goal. Please add RDI to the list of autism interventions

approved for reimbursement. Additionally, please also allow benefits

for parents who want to become certified in RDI themselves, as you do

for ABA.

If you would like to learn more about RDI, please go to:

www.rdiconnect.com.

Signature

Dema Stout

Consultant in Training

San

http://www.airforcetimes.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 autistic children

to create a new segment of its Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)

program.

Under the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, Congress is requiring the

Defense Department to create a new action plan under the existing

ECHO program to provide more and better services for families with

autistic children.

Tricare officials are now reaching out to such families for

suggestions on what kind of education, training and supervisory

requirements caregivers should have. Input is also needed to help set

standards for caregiver training and ways to ensure children on all

points of the autism spectrum receive the care they need though

Tricare and ECHO programs in concert with other publicly provided

services.

Any military family members with suggestions can email the Tricare

Management Activity at ChildrenWithAutisim@... through the

end of 2007.

" It is vital we learn about affected beneficiaries and their personal

experiences, so Tricare may better meet their needs, " said Army Maj.

Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the Tricare Management

Activity. " We look forward to expanding available treatment options

and access to care for beneficiaries with autism. "

Autistic children in military families currently are covered for only

a handful of treatments, including Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Tricare covers up to $2,500 of the hands-on therapy, with a co-pay,

as long as the treatment is administered by a certified provider who

meets qualifications.

Uncertified caregivers are not covered, even if properly supervised.

Tricare will share the cost of training if a family member wants to

become certified.

According to the Autism Society of America, one in every 166 children

is born with some form of autism, considered the " fastest-growing

developmental disability " in the U.S., up 172 percent since 1990.

But researchers also say that early diagnosis and intervention can

cut the lifelong cost of care for those with autism by two-thirds.

[Guest guest]

i beieve that any of these programs are available to ACTIVE DUTY military

under Tricare, not retirees families. Am I wrong????

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Pentagon looks to meet needs of autistic kids

>Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:52:49 -0000

>

>The below posting came from my local ASA group, but it was also

>referenced here as well. I have composed a letter for families to use

>to respond to the request for input. I passed it by Dr. Sheely and

>got her blessing to post it, so I'm uploading to the files section

>under " Tricare Military Family Response " . Please feel free to send

>to other groups. Here is a copy of the text:

>

>We are a military family with a child with autism. Our (son/daughter)

>is now ___ years old. (Add a brief description of the child) We are

>grateful for Tri Care's support for ABA. However, although ABA can

>make a big difference in a child's behavior, and can help the child

>learn specific skills, it is NOT focused on our child's adult quality

>of life.

>

>RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) is the intervention we

>believe our (son/daughter) needs to have the best chance for a

>successful adult life. RDI is a parent teaching model provided by

>Certified Consultants that initially focuses on our child's

>relationship with us…(his/her) parents. What we can learn through

>RDI will help remediate our child's core autism deficits and enable

>(him/her) to have what every parent wants for a child: a good

>education, a job, friends and a family. RDI focuses on exactly those

>processes required to meet those goals.

>

>We so much want to be the best parent possible for our child. We

>believe that RDI is the intervention that is most likely to help us

>achieve that goal. Please add RDI to the list of autism interventions

>approved for reimbursement. Additionally, please also allow benefits

>for parents who want to become certified in RDI themselves, as you do

>for ABA.

>

>If you would like to learn more about RDI, please go to:

>www.rdiconnect.com.

>

>Signature

>

>Dema Stout

>

>Consultant in Training

>

>San

>

>

>http://www.airforcetimes.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 autistic children

>to create a new segment of its Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)

>program.

>

>Under the 2007 Defense Authorization Act, Congress is requiring the

>Defense Department to create a new action plan under the existing

>ECHO program to provide more and better services for families with

>autistic children.

>

>Tricare officials are now reaching out to such families for

>suggestions on what kind of education, training and supervisory

>requirements caregivers should have. Input is also needed to help set

>standards for caregiver training and ways to ensure children on all

>points of the autism spectrum receive the care they need though

>Tricare and ECHO programs in concert with other publicly provided

>services.

>

>Any military family members with suggestions can email the Tricare

>Management Activity at ChildrenWithAutisim@... through the

>end of 2007.

>

> " It is vital we learn about affected beneficiaries and their personal

>experiences, so Tricare may better meet their needs, " said Army Maj.

>Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of the Tricare Management

>Activity. " We look forward to expanding available treatment options

>and access to care for beneficiaries with autism. "

>

>Autistic children in military families currently are covered for only

>a handful of treatments, including Applied Behavioral Analysis.

>Tricare covers up to $2,500 of the hands-on therapy, with a co-pay,

>as long as the treatment is administered by a certified provider who

>meets qualifications.

>

>Uncertified caregivers are not covered, even if properly supervised.

>Tricare will share the cost of training if a family member wants to

>become certified.

>

>According to the Autism Society of America, one in every 166 children

>is born with some form of autism, considered the " fastest-growing

>developmental disability " in the U.S., up 172 percent since 1990.

>

>But researchers also say that early diagnosis and intervention can

>cut the lifelong cost of care for those with autism by two-thirds.

>

>

>

>

>

>--------------------------------------------------

>Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of

>our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by

>including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the

>archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/

>--------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

Thank you for pointing this out. I believe this is so true, this

would not work for retirees. May I have permisson to post this with

what you wrote to my other fellow ASA support group? I would like

others to be aware plus just knowing to see if they have any input on

this.

Thanks,

Irma

>

> i beieve that any of these programs are available to ACTIVE DUTY

military

> under Tricare, not retirees families. Am I wrong????

>

>

>

> Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

[Guest guest]

Post away Irma. I wish the " lifetime, free medical care " for military

lifers was true, but that is a very big lie, so I really believe this

particular Tricare program is not available to retirees. But maybe someone

knows for sure!

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Re: Pentagon looks to meet needs of autistic kids

>Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:20:05 -0000

>

>Hi Sara,

>Thank you for pointing this out. I believe this is so true, this

>would not work for retirees. May I have permisson to post this with

>what you wrote to my other fellow ASA support group? I would like

>others to be aware plus just knowing to see if they have any input on

>this.

>

>

>Thanks,

>Irma

>

>

> >

> > i beieve that any of these programs are available to ACTIVE DUTY

>military

> > under Tricare, not retirees families. Am I wrong????

> >

> >

> >

> > Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

> >

>

>

>

>

>--------------------------------------------------

>Checkout our homepage for information, bookmarks, and photos of

>our kids. Share favorite bookmarks, ideas, and other information by

>including them. Don't forget, messages are a permanent record of the

>archives for our list. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/

>--------------------------------------------

>