The Autism Society of America has met with Mitt Romney's campaign and will be meeting with President Obama's regarding a platform of policy ideas to be supported by both campaigns. A campaign's ability to adopt these idea in total will personally be my deciding factor for my vote. I encourage other families of children with autism to insist to both campaigns that support our children, our community of self advocates, and our families living with autism. I would also encourage anyone running for national public office (I'm looking at you, Congress) to adopt this platform as well to affect meaningful change for people like my son.
From their website:
The Autism Society encourages each presidential candidate to support the following ideals:
1. A person living with autism or another developmental disability must be assured the protected right to quality education, employment, housing and services. This right must be recognized by federal and state governments.
2. Medicaid funding must not be cut, as it is the primary financial support for individuals with developmental disabilities. Reducing Medicaid funding will drastically hurt those individuals whose lives depend on Medicaid’s health insurance provision and community support funding.
3. A person currently receiving Medicaid for community services should be able to continue to receive that support when he moves to another state. No individual should be denied the right to move to another state due to a job or support need.
4. States should be allowed greater flexibility to use federal funding for outcome-based care and must be required to show measurable progress. The Autism Society defines progress as advancement toward self-sufficiency, independence and autonomy.
5. Autism must be treated as a whole body condition. Health insurance companies must provide coverage for other services in addition to medical treatments, such as behavioral therapies, which are often very expensive but can have very positive outcomes for individuals on the spectrum.
6. Individuals and families living with autism or another developmental disability should be provided tax savings or credit opportunities to place money in an account that can be used for services they need. We strongly urge that the passage of the ABLE Act be a priority of any person seeking the office of President of the United States.
7. Bullying and restraints and seclusion that harm students at school are very serious issues that need a national solution right now.
8. The high unemployment of adults with developmental disabilities must be a priority to be addressed by government agencies and the private sector. All individuals should have the opportunity to obtain meaningful employment based on skill level.
9. Federal housing, justice, employment and other government programs that are for the general public should be required to prove they do not discriminate against individuals with developmental disabilities.
10. Other government agencies and departments, and not just Health and Human Services, should have a seat on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, which brings together public and private entities to coordinate autism services and support programs nationwide. The Autism Society urges this council to address the following needs: transitional services, living support, the growing socioeconomic disparity preventing people from accessing a diagnosis and vital autism services. All individuals with autism should enjoy protected civil rights.
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