On June 16, 2010 the House Human Services held a work session to examine the current strategies and best practices for diagnosing and providing services for persons with autism and their families and will look at how other states have addressed autism and its increased rate of diagnoses. Presenters included Dr. Wendy Stone, Director of Autism Center, University of Washington; Dr. Charles Cowan, Medical Director Seattle Children's Autism Center; Maria Nardella, MA, RD, CD, Manager, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, Washington Department of Health; Dr. Glenn Tripp, Medical Director, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital; Diana Stadden, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, The Arc of Washington State; and Dawn Sidell, Executive Director, Northwest Autism Center.
TVW has uploaded video of the hearing on their website. You can access it via the links below. Also included is a link to the committee website where a PDF version of all the PowerPoint presentations can be accessed.
Please click here to watch video or paste this url into your browser address bar:
http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?EvId=2010060078
Committee meeting documents are available online:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/HS/
The committee was very receptive to the information shared and were very clear that they expect some agency requested legislation regarding autism concerns from the Department of Health for the upcoming legislative session. It is clear that we do not have an accurate way of documenting how many people in Washington State have autism.
The work of the 2005 Caring for Individuals with Autism Task Force was discussed and it was disappointing to report that only one recommendation from the task force had been accomplished, that being the creation of an Autism Guidebook for Washington State. The book is very beneficial and addresses issues from birth through the lifespan, but there is no funding to print more copies of it. Because of the task force work, we were able to receive a grant from the Federal Combating Autism Act and now have an Autism Advisory Council looking at issues surrounding children with autism (it does not look at adult issues).
The Arc of Washington State is compiling possible ideas for legislation that will benefit families with autism. Ideas range from providing specific autism interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to family supports such as Parent to Parent and additional Home and Community Based Services waiver openings. You are encouraged to offer your ideas for legislation in the comments box below.
Diana Stadden
Parent of a 17 year old with autism
Poicy & Advocacy Coordinator
The Arc of Washington State
Has the state considered doing an ABA waiver or behavioral waiver, that people would have for a limited amount of time--- 3 or 4 years(?) then they come off so someone else could benefit?
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing!!!! /I look forward to your feedback /thanks for this man it was very helpful.
ReplyDeleteChild Care VIC