The Social Site & Official Publication of Autism Connection
Treating Autism: Money Matters
By Nicole Mytels
It's been my experience there are two camps of autism parents. One camp has private resources and a . Philosophy of: "We're going to fight this autism with everything we have!" And they do mean everything. No stone will be left unturned.
The other camp is equally fiesty and relentless in their battle, but their resources are much more limited. These parents are often newly unemployed, single, or divorced - and they are less likely to have a yard for an enormous trampoline or a service dog. They won't be vacationing in Muai for Dolphin Therapy.
So I think it is important to remember autism strikes both rich and poor families. However, about 80% of families will fall into the lower-middle, working class, and a newly emerging group referred to as the underclass. The world is changing and we're in the middle of this horrible recession, so we can't just pretend that, tra-la-la, money is no object.
This difference in world-view became apparent to me recently when a parent joined one of the support groups/blogs I belong to with the epxress intent to drum up funds for a $15,000 service dog for their child.
The support group regulars were taken aback. Fifteen thousand dollars??? - Some of the members shop at thrift stores and have trouble paying for gas.
In so many words, they let the parent know that they thought she was a "poor little rich girl." The mom responded that our support group left a lot to be desired. The group felt bad and tried to explain and patch things up, but it was too late.
We also know it is possible for less affluent folks to make those of us who spent entire retirements and housing equity on autism treatments to feel like jealous fools. When a single parent on a fixed income writes that she is grateful that her daughter's teacher has brought her from a non-verbal girl to a chatty girl with a best friend in less than a year, it is easy to feel jealous if you have taken your son to expensive speech therapy three times per week and not seen much progress.
There is a need for sensitivity among us autism parents. What we have in common are children on the spectrum. We can make an effort to treat each other with dignity and respect. Get to know parents and try not to make assumptions.
It's been my experience there are two camps of autism parents. One camp has private resources and a . Philosophy of: "We're going to fight this autism with everything we have!" And they do mean everything. No stone will be left unturned.
The other camp is equally fiesty and relentless in their battle, but their resources are much more limited. These parents are often newly unemployed, single, or divorced - and they are less likely to have a yard for an enormous trampoline or a service dog. They won't be vacationing in Muai for Dolphin Therapy.
So I think it is important to remember autism strikes both rich and poor families. However, about 80% of families will fall into the lower-middle, working class, and a newly emerging group referred to as the underclass. The world is changing and we're in the middle of this horrible recession, so we can't just pretend that, tra-la-la, money is no object.
This difference in world-view became apparent to me recently when a parent joined one of the support groups/blogs I belong to with the epxress intent to drum up funds for a $15,000 service dog for their child.
The support group regulars were taken aback. Fifteen thousand dollars??? - Some of the members shop at thrift stores and have trouble paying for gas.
In so many words, they let the parent know that they thought she was a "poor little rich girl." The mom responded that our support group left a lot to be desired. The group felt bad and tried to explain and patch things up, but it was too late.
We also know it is possible for less affluent folks to make those of us who spent entire retirements and housing equity on autism treatments to feel like jealous fools. When a single parent on a fixed income writes that she is grateful that her daughter's teacher has brought her from a non-verbal girl to a chatty girl with a best friend in less than a year, it is easy to feel jealous if you have taken your son to expensive speech therapy three times per week and not seen much progress.
There is a need for sensitivity among us autism parents. What we have in common are children on the spectrum. We can make an effort to treat each other with dignity and respect. Get to know parents and try not to make assumptions.
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