[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]
Autism advocates rally for reform at Iowa Capitol
February 09, 2016
Des Moines— Autism Speaks advocates rallied in Des Moines this week to push for autism insurance reform. The February 4th rally was held in conjunction with Autism Society of Iowa’s Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day with hundreds in attendance, including individuals with autism, their families and service providers.
Speakers at the rally included elected officials from across the state such as Governor Terry Brandstad, House Majority Leader Chris Hagenow, State Representatives David Heaton and Rick Bertrand. Other were Alec Kennedy, from U.S. Chuck Senator Grassley’s office who addressed the need federal wandering and safety legislation and Judith Ursiitti, Director, State Government affairs who called for action on autism insurance reform in the state.
From left to right: Sean Peterson, Iowa State Senator Rick Bertrand and Josh Cobb
After opening remarks, attendees met with legislators to voice the needs of the community, including advocating for passage of autism insurance bills, House File 2112, sponsored by Rep. Ron Jorgensen and Senate File 2072, sponsored by Senator Robert Dvorksy. If you live in Iowa, you too can send a letter state legislators to support the passage of autism insurance reform this legislative session here.
After opening remarks, attendees met with legislators to voice the needs of the community, including advocating for passage of autism insurance bills, House File 2112, sponsored by Rep. Ron Jorgensen and Senate File 2072, sponsored by Senator Robert Dvorksy.
In 2010, the Iowa Legislature added meaningful autism coverage for Iowa state employees in their health plans. Reforms sponsored by Senator Dvorksy and Rep. Jorgensen, would provide equal coverage to the one million Iowans with private health insurance that currently do not have it in their plans.
Advocates point out that requiring coverage in the state regulated private health insurance market is fiscally responsible and will provide tremendous benefits for those who access to medically necessary care.
Premium impact for the state employee coverage is reported at 29 cents per member per month after 5 years of coverage. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the lifetime cost of caring for a person with autism is $3.2 million. Be sure to sign up here to receive the latest news from Autism Votes on all advocacy related issues in your state.
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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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