RELATED BLOG: Loudoun Mothers Find Autism Support

The Virginia General Assembly will be voting next session on House Bill 83, which would require insurance companies to provide coverage for children who need habilitative services such as occupational, speech and/or behavioral therapies.

Parents of children with inherent special needs, such as autism, often pay out-of-pocket for such treatments.

Aundrea Foster's 6-year-old son D.J. was diagnosed with autism two years ago. Since that time, Foster estimates that she and her husband have spent nearly $100,000 on therapies for her son.

"We've exhausted our home equity loans, and now we have to choose each month which bill to pay," she said.

Foster, who lives in Ashburn, left a high-profile and well-paying career to manage her son's program, which includes applied behavioral analysis, speech and occupational therapies, and social skills groups.

"We went from two incomes to one," she said. "But I made the decision to stay home instead of paying someone else to manage his care, and I wouldn't change a thing."

Two years ago, Foster said D.J. had no social skills and did not speak. He also had behavioral issues.

This fall, D.J. will be mainstreamed into the public school system. "I'm not sure this would have been possible had he not received these services," said Foster.

To rally support for the passage of HB83, the LoCo Autism Network and the Loudoun Project are sponsoring the Loudoun County Autism Summit on Mon., July 28 from 6 p.m. to10 p.m. in the Potomac Club at Lansdowne on the Potomac.

At this event, families will hear from Autism Speaks representatives, educators, service providers, and autism experts.

Also in attendance will be several elected officials-- state senators Mark Herring (D-33) and Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-27); and delegates Tom Rust (R-86), David Poisson (D-32), and Bob Marshall (R-13). Marshall is a sponsor of House Bill 83.

For more information and to register for the Loudoun County Autism Summit, click here. Space is limited to 100 attendees.

Need a sitter for the event? KiDazzles, a children's speech therapy center in Ashburn is offering up games, a moon bounce and a craft for kids whose parents will be attending the summit. The cost is $40 per child and pre-registration is required.