I try to remain pretty unspoken about political issues, as that’s a boundary that I like to maintain to myself and close family. However, given the shaky political landscape we live in, there’s something that came up that I felt strongly about that I have to write about.
Betsy DeVos decided to announce plans for cutting large chunks of funding for things like the Special Olympics, Autism services, Special Education, etc. I would like to believe that regardless of where you fall on the political alignment, you could see something not right about taking away money from helping those with disabilities. I am also hoping that this portion of the budget gets denied and these individuals can keep getting services they need. I am writing about my stance on this from both personal and professional standpoints.
Personally, I watched (as a young child and teen) a much older cousin of mine go through events at the Special Olympics. My cousin had Down Syndrome and along with it cognitive deficits (or as many know it, mental retardation) and growing up with these diagnoses and needs in the 60s and 70s, there was not a whole lot out there for services. Eventually, he joined up with Special Olympics and got social opportunities that he had never had the opportunity to get as a child. The Special Olympics also led to joining other groups that took him out fishing, his one true passion aside from Green Bay Packers football. Eliminating funding for the Special Olympics is sending the message to so many wonderful individuals that their needs do not matter and they are to miss the chance of engagement with others. You know what else the Special Olympics does? It helps continue to reduce the stigma of those with disabilities and mental health diagnoses within the general public. Volunteers of all ages get the chance to help out and see that hey, just because someone is different from them in some way, does not make them less of a person and friendships are created. Take away the chance for volunteering and we are encouraging close minded views among our children and young adults as they grow up. Want to see a heartwarming movie about things like this? Go watch The Ringer with Johnny Knoxville (yes, that Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame), as it helps examine what I have been typing about.
Now, going to the side of Autism. I have dedicated a lot of my professional career to working with those diagnosed with ASD and hearing about funding being taken away from these kids is just a gut punch. If any of you reading this are parents, I want you to think about the first time your child said “I love you” without you prompting them. Remember how great that made you feel on the inside and how touched you were? Now imagine if you never had that happen with your child or children. Parents, not just from my career path but other professionals who work with ASD families, note that they desire wanting to hear their child talk. When their child finally says something as simple as asking for milk or food, it gives them that feeling that you felt when your child said they loved you. Without early intervention services for children with ASD, they lose the opportunity to learn how to speak, how to cope with their emotions, and how to socialize with others. Parents that receive their child’s ASD diagnosis usually go through grief and relief, but they will spend time worrying about how their child’s future will look. You can go on social media sites and see the success and happiness stories from parents who had their child successfully work through their ASD symptoms and lead a life that is similar to so many other children. Take away these school based services and the chance for these success stories drops significantly. You may be thinking, “Well, what about community and mental health agencies? They can pick up the slack!” While you are somewhat correct, ASD specialty clinics and agencies are already pretty well maxed out and the wait list for services can stretch into half a year to a year long. Taking away school funding for ASD and other services puts an unthinkable amount of demand on an already taxed system.
I am also including some scholarly sources about early interventions for children with Autism, because as a professional, I am also a scholar and believe in providing sources for people to utilize.
Be Well,
Joey
Freedman, M. (2017). Effective early autism intervention has long-term impact. Contemporary Pediatrics, (1), 8
Irwin, C., & Axe, J. B. (2019). Overview of applied behavior analysis and early intervention for autism spectrum disorder. In Behavioral interventions in schools: Evidence-based positive strategies., 2nd ed. (pp. 205–226). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Pasco, G. (2018). Symposium: special educational needs and disability: The value of early intervention for children with autism. Paediatrics and Child Health, 28, 364–367.
Manohar, H., Kandasamy, P., Chandrasekaran, V., & Rajkumar, R. P. (2019). Early Diagnosis and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Need for Pediatrician-Child Psychiatrist Liaison. Indian Journal Of Psychological Medicine, 41(1), 87–90
Stock, R., Mirenda, P., & Smith, I. M. (2013). Comparison of community-based verbal behavior and pivotal response treatment programs for young children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 1168–1181.