Ignorance Strikes Again

Yep, it reared its ugly head again today...ignorance...total and complete idiocy. And it once again made my heart drop to my toes and later, tears well up into my eyes.

While we're here on vacation, we took the girls out to an Arts & Crafts show at a local town festival. Naturally we took Riley with us as we are training him with Leah on Autism Assistance tasks such as tethering for elopement (running away). Leah and he were doing a FANTASTIC job walking nicely through all of the vendors, across a bridge and looking at a river full of fish!!! Then BAM...we we looking at the oh-so-important mini marshmallow popper gun :) and a lady leaned into me and 'informed me' that we weren't allowed to have dogs in the art show. I immediately reacted with,"Sorry, he's protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It's the law that he can be here." I'm such a dolt...99% of people, especially in the town that we were in, don't know what the ADA is! DUH! And Josh decided to add that he's a service dog and that he can go anywhere we go. She replied with another flippant remark of, "I don't see any service dog." Ahem...it was only 80 degrees and he was wearing a vest, 2 collars, a leather harness and a tether. Josh distinctly 'yells' back to her to open her eyes and look down!!! The vendor added that she needed to go 'take a long walk'. His comment really made me feel human again, where her comment degraded me and, I felt, our daughter.

Gulp...this kind of attitude is what puts us in the world of advocacy further behind than ever. I have so many ill feelings toward this woman and the fact that I couldn't do something more on behalf of Leah...MY DAUGHTER!

So I guess what I ask of you is this...if you ever see a family in a situation where they are facing discrimination of any kind, be an additional voice, be a supporter for that family...FOR THAT CHILD. Don't stand by and let that family feel alienated in this world. It's a horrible, lonely feeling. Stand up for something important, stand up for someONE important. Maybe that someone isn't known to you personally, but he or she is a loved one of another!

Autism Deserves Coverage Too

Okay, so now I'm on my soapbox for this post! Sorry, I'm being political here! (I have to vent...Josh is tired of hearing it, I'm on vacation at the lake and I need to get it off my chest!!!)

Leah had "Psychological Testing" to diagnose her Autism at University of Michigan. Now, some of you may be thinking, "Psychological Testing...did they hook her up to probes and wires???" No, no, no!!! It was simply behavioral observation, human interaction and speech and language testing. All to indicate Autism or not. Well, our insurance company (and yours too probably) doesn't "do" Autism. Simply stated, they are refusing coverage for her highly expensive diagnostic testing...the testing that allows us access to the most appropriate therapies and services...which the insurance company won't cover either (and we're not asking them to...YET!)

It's funny though, the insurance company is using an odd statement to say that they don't cover psychological testing for Leah..."It is an experimental and unproven method." Strange...there is no blood test, no genetic marker to examine, no brain scan to look at. Psychological testing is the method used at the National Institutes of Health as well as at one of the most recognized diagnostic centers in the nation...University of Michigan Autism and Communications Disorders Center...Our Clinic! Way to go insurance companies!!!

So in our grievance...7 pages long with professional citations and PhD letters of support...we state that they are discriminating against individuals with Autism in their denial of coverage, particularly Leah!!!

There is a Bill (actually 2...one for HMO's too) on the table here in Michigan that is in committee to force insurance companies to cover diagnosis and therapies for Autism. If you have the heart, contact your State Representative to ask for their support on this bill. A simple email would work!

Remember, individuals with Autism are individuals first...thus they deserve the same things in life that we are afforded!!!! Their Autism is secondary!!!

A New Puppy

But not ours...Shoo-wee!!! But boy-oh-boy, how cute, cuddly and fun!

Banjo came over to our house and was introduced to twin girls and a 55 pound labradoodle. Ahem...did I mention that Banjo is a 1.3 pound Yorkie-Poo (I think that's how you spell it!!!) All that it would take was a big 'inhale' from Riley and Banjo would have been gone...or it would have taken a simple high-step from Logan or Leah and Banjo would have been split into two pieces with a spine severed in one fallen swoop! CRUNCH!!!!

But the girls had a blast with this little runt! They frolicked and played with the chocolate colored fluff ball until he crashed under the chair in the shade. One just doesn't know the wonder of life and the delight of little girls until you see them find the simple joys in a puppy. Giggles, dances, jumps and squeals of happiness! Oh...the bliss!!!

My Child Has Autism

These are four words that I have never thought I would say out loud, write in a letter, let alone a blog for goodness sakes. Leah was diagnosed with autism on July 3, 2008. This is a day that will be etched in my parental history forever and will be a day of new beginnings.

We were given the diagnosis of autism because Leah meets the criteria in all three areas for of autism with delays in communication, socialization and having repetitive behaviors. We were given the news in a very professional and heartfelt manner (and given ample time to shed multiple tears) and we were then given various recommendations. Leah was recommended for speech therapy and OT which she is already enrolled in both at school and in the clinical setting. She has also been recommended for ABA therapy, a specific therapy for children with autism. This will be a very time intensive therapeutic endeavor as it calls for 25-40 hours per week. It is also not covered by insurance! Thank you Michigan insurance laws! UGH!

I took some time to grieve this news and I'm sure I will continue to grieve the "official" diagnosis. But I am on a mission to get services in line, Riley trained appropriately and Leah in the best place possible for the best life outcomes! This news is difficult for us all, but we need to think about what God has done here. He placed God in Mama Lidia's giving arms and she and God placed her in our loving forever family for so many reasons, one of them being that she is a child with autism. We have the access and the knowledge to provide her with the best and the latest technologies to give her the greatest opportunities available. God works his 'magic' and we all need to see it, follow it and live it! Amen!

With this blog, I plan now to continue to update all of you about our family's 'doings' but also to educate all of you about autism and children with autism as well as Leah as an individual. I look forward to this new turn on our journey as we can't turn back or stop...our family must soldier on and persevere. I know Leah will make fabulous strides in her development with our and your love, support and prayers!

One More Day...

We have one more day...one more day until we get a diagnosis of autism or not for Leah. I have butterflies in my stomach, tears in my eyes, tingles down my arms and legs, but am ready to know what lies ahead for our family and for our girl.

We've been to U of M for two days of evaluations this week and have been very impressed with the professionalism and the treatment of our family and our little Leah. It's been such a thorough evaluation that whatever the results, I will have full faith that all information has been taken into account to make a fully informed diagnosis or other recommendation.

Many have asked, "So what do you hope to gain with a diagnosis of autism or not???" Simply, access to services, access to appropriate therapies, and parent and family education. What is more important than understanding of your child than to help them achieve their greatest potential???? :)

We'll be sure to keep you updated...after we head up north to the cottage for the weekend! First things first!