By Sydney Wilmer
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Loudoun residents touched by autism gathered Monday evening at the Lansdowne Potomac Club to rally support for legislation designed to ease the disease's financial burden on families.
In a series of testimonials and presentations, parents and advocates spoke to a full house about the devastation of an illness not covered by insurance can cause.
Most families pay about $50,000 a year in therapy costs. Many parents shared stories of how the disease derailed even their otherwise financially stable families.
"My family has refinanced our home to get our child what he needs," said Cindy Davis, one parent who voiced her support of the bill.
Davis was one of about 20 parents who spoke at the summit. Most shared a similar story. After their sons or daughters were diagnosed, they were forced to make decisions about what treatments they would give their children. Typically, Davis said, it comes down to paying the bills or paying for treatment that could help move a child off the Autism Spectrum.
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As of December 2007, there were 528 autistic students enrolled in Loudoun County Public School system, said Mary Kearney, Head of Loudoun County Special Education.
The bill would primarily cover a program called ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, which was approved by the surgeon general in 2002 as a way to treat autism. Although Davis and other parents would like to see other programs covered, this is start, they said.
Legislators who attended the Summit, especially the bill's sponsor Del. Robert Marshall (R-13), seconded their hopes.
"I'm your coach, I know how to navigate these falls, but we need your help," said Marshall.
If House Bill 83 is passed, Virginia will be the fifth state this year to mandate insurers provide autism coverage. Furthermore, coverage would apply to all autistic children and young adults under the age of 21. This could total about $36,000 in annual coverage per child.
House Bill 83 will be up for a vote in the Virginia General Assembly next session.
"I'd like to see this bill passed – that's why I'm here tonight," Beverly Tolbert said. Tolbert's 8-year-old son is autistic.
"There are a lot of kids out there being diagnosed," she said. "This is a problem. People need to be aware."
"Virginia needs to do more with children with autism," said Sen. Mark Herring (D-33), who was also present. "From what I've heard tonight, this seems like a reasonable measure, but of course, I will have to look into it."
Marshall said he was optimistic about the bill and believes the community, strong and dedicated, will sustain the movement.
"The reason I'm optimistic is that people live this everyday," Marshall said. "If we do this at the grassroots, we can do this."
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