[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]
Major Overhaul Urged for Medical Care for Military Kids
October 05, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC (October 5, 2013) — Autism Speaks has joined the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Association, Easter Seals and other major advocacy groups in their appeal for TRICARE to overhaul its pediatric care for military kids, including the delivery of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy.
The Department of Defense (DoD), which manages the TRICARE healthcare program for active and retired military members, was directed last year by Congress to conduct a comprehensive review of its pediatric care services. TRICARE now bases its reimbursement system on Medicare, which was established for adults aged 65 and older.
“Children’s health care needs, however, differ from those of adults,” Autism Speaks said in its letter to the DoD. “In its recent policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes the problems with adult-based assumptions, and recommends healthcare policies reflect pediatric specific principles and address the unique needs of children when defining medical necessity.”
These needs are heightened for military children with chronic medical conditions and disabilities.
Autism Speaks recommended four specific changes to TRICARE’s pediatric services program. TRICARE should
- Amend regulations and policies to reflect pediatric-specific principles
- Improve access to pediatric specialty care providers
- Emphasize family-centered care coordination
- Improve coverage of applied behavior analysis
Autism Speaks has worked with its champions in Congress to expand TRICARE’s ABA benefits to meet the needs of all beneficiaries including non-active duty members. Legislation to affect the change has cleared the House of Representatives and soon will be taken up by the Senate.
In addition to Autism Speaks, comments were submitted by:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Children’s Hospital Association
Military Officers Association of America
Military Special Needs Network
Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health
Easter Seals
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Note/Warning:
Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid.
ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.
The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work.
What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.
The ‘cure’ for Autistics not born yet is the prevention of birth.
The ‘cure’ is a choice to terminate a pregnancy based on ‘autism risk.’ The cure is abortion. This is the same ‘cure’ society has for Down Syndrome.
This is eugenics 2021. Instead of killing Autistics and disabled children in gas chambers or ‘mercy killings’ like in Aktion T4, it’ll happen at the doctor’s office, quietly, one Autistic baby at a time. Different approaches yes, but still eugenics and the extinction of an entire minority group of people.
Fact: You can’t cure Autistics from being Autistic.
Fact: You can’t recover an Autistic from being Autistic.
Fact: You can groom an Autistic to mask and hide their traits. Somewhat. … however, this comes at the expense of the Autistic child, promotes Autistic Burnout (this should not be confused with typical burnout, Autistic Burnout can kill Autistics), and places the Autistic child at high risk for PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions.
[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]
Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.
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