Post by title1parent on Sept 18, 2009 6:04:29 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1776807,2_1_AU18_AUTISM_S1-090918.article
Autism 'tsunami' sweeping across state
September 18, 2009 Beacon
By KARRI E. CHRISTIANSEN For The Beacon-News
Illinois public schools have seen the number of students with autism jump 700 percent in the past 12 years, and many public schools are not equipped to deal with those students.
State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, hosted a meeting this week to discuss issues related to this dramatic increase at Montgomery Village Hall. About 30 people, most of whom have children who are autistic, attended the meeting.
"I'm glad you could all come, but I'm disheartened that anyone has to be here," Holmes said.
In 1996, Illinois schools housed about 1,960 autistic students. Now, there are more than 13,000 autistic students enrolled in public schools, according to Kathy Gould with the Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Program.
Holmes said she called the town hall meeting to bring people together so they could learn what resources are available and what legal remedies families have when dealing with insurance companies and school systems.
Several residents expressed concern that their insurance companies deny treatment to their autistic children and that public schools do not know to deal with them. Holmes said a law was passed just last year that requires insurance companies to treat autistic patients.
Gould added that a law commonly known as the "Seven Factors Law" recently was enacted to help school systems work with parents and their autistic children to develop individualized education programs (IEP) so students may remain in the public school system. The seven factors are: communication; social; sensory; resistance to change; repetitive activities/stereotyped movements; positive behavioral interventions and supports; and "other" needs.
Gould said by law schools that teach autistic students must provide training to teachers who work with those students. Parents can call the Illinois State Board of Education to report schools who have teachers not trained to work with any kind of disabled or challenged student under their care, she said.
Part of the problem with autism is that it does not affect each child the same.
Susan Hamre is a speech pathologist and director of the Autism Training Center at Giant Steps Illinois, located in Burr Ridge.
There's a saying among many parents of autistic children: "If you've met a child with autism, you've met one child with autism." Each child has different needs, Hamre said. The trick is trying to determine what those needs are, as they sometimes can change daily.
Which is why, Hamre said, public school officials must work closely with parents to develop IEPs. She said some schools are so poorly equipped to work with autistic children that those children are sent to "special schools" for so-called "problem children" diagnosed with behavioral or emotional disorders.
"This is a medical condition, not an emotional or behavioral disorder."
There are several schools and care centers across the state that cater specifically to autistic children.
Hamre said 10 years ago, autism was a rare condition. Now, 24,000 children are diagnosed with the disease every year in the U.S.
There are a number of factors that could contribute to autism, including environmental or genetic factors, but nothing proven. Hamre said there are several things parents should watch for that could help doctors diagnose autism in children, such as: did the child enjoy being held as a baby or did he pull away? Was the baby cuddly? Was it difficult to nurse the baby? Did the baby enjoy wearing clothes or not enjoy wearing clothes?
Parents seeking information about new laws regarding health insurance coverage for autistic children or care centers can visit the Web sites for the National Alliance for Autism Research, the National Autistic Society, Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the U.S. and/or the Defeat Autism Project.
Autism 'tsunami' sweeping across state
September 18, 2009 Beacon
By KARRI E. CHRISTIANSEN For The Beacon-News
Illinois public schools have seen the number of students with autism jump 700 percent in the past 12 years, and many public schools are not equipped to deal with those students.
State Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, hosted a meeting this week to discuss issues related to this dramatic increase at Montgomery Village Hall. About 30 people, most of whom have children who are autistic, attended the meeting.
"I'm glad you could all come, but I'm disheartened that anyone has to be here," Holmes said.
In 1996, Illinois schools housed about 1,960 autistic students. Now, there are more than 13,000 autistic students enrolled in public schools, according to Kathy Gould with the Illinois Autism Training and Technical Assistance Program.
Holmes said she called the town hall meeting to bring people together so they could learn what resources are available and what legal remedies families have when dealing with insurance companies and school systems.
Several residents expressed concern that their insurance companies deny treatment to their autistic children and that public schools do not know to deal with them. Holmes said a law was passed just last year that requires insurance companies to treat autistic patients.
Gould added that a law commonly known as the "Seven Factors Law" recently was enacted to help school systems work with parents and their autistic children to develop individualized education programs (IEP) so students may remain in the public school system. The seven factors are: communication; social; sensory; resistance to change; repetitive activities/stereotyped movements; positive behavioral interventions and supports; and "other" needs.
Gould said by law schools that teach autistic students must provide training to teachers who work with those students. Parents can call the Illinois State Board of Education to report schools who have teachers not trained to work with any kind of disabled or challenged student under their care, she said.
Part of the problem with autism is that it does not affect each child the same.
Susan Hamre is a speech pathologist and director of the Autism Training Center at Giant Steps Illinois, located in Burr Ridge.
There's a saying among many parents of autistic children: "If you've met a child with autism, you've met one child with autism." Each child has different needs, Hamre said. The trick is trying to determine what those needs are, as they sometimes can change daily.
Which is why, Hamre said, public school officials must work closely with parents to develop IEPs. She said some schools are so poorly equipped to work with autistic children that those children are sent to "special schools" for so-called "problem children" diagnosed with behavioral or emotional disorders.
"This is a medical condition, not an emotional or behavioral disorder."
There are several schools and care centers across the state that cater specifically to autistic children.
Hamre said 10 years ago, autism was a rare condition. Now, 24,000 children are diagnosed with the disease every year in the U.S.
There are a number of factors that could contribute to autism, including environmental or genetic factors, but nothing proven. Hamre said there are several things parents should watch for that could help doctors diagnose autism in children, such as: did the child enjoy being held as a baby or did he pull away? Was the baby cuddly? Was it difficult to nurse the baby? Did the baby enjoy wearing clothes or not enjoy wearing clothes?
Parents seeking information about new laws regarding health insurance coverage for autistic children or care centers can visit the Web sites for the National Alliance for Autism Research, the National Autistic Society, Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the U.S. and/or the Defeat Autism Project.