Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

February 7, 2012

Forum: Moving can't be only autism option

By David E. Meador ----

Michigan is currently ranked in the top 10 worst places to live for children with autism. Today, the best option for families to get help is to move out of state, where autism is covered by insurance.

Autism is a severe disorder of neural development and impacts 1 in 110 children in Michigan and another 1,000 children born in Michigan each year with autism. There is no known cause or cure.

Few of Michigan's children with autism have a chance. Autism can be identified by age 2 and there are proven therapies that can mitigate the symptoms. Half the kids can make so much progress they achieve normal function, are mainstreamed in school and can go on to lead independent lives and become productive, taxpaying residents.

Without insurance there is little chance of improvement because without coverage, there are virtually no certified therapists in behavior therapy, the most important therapy. Michigan has 30 certified behavior therapists working with 15,000 children with autism while Florida has thousands.

The "free market system" is in a deep freeze on this one. Without insurance we have systematically denied access. In many cases the only choice parents have to get help is to move to a state that provides coverage.

Michigan has to choose. We must do the right thing and stand by our children.

In addition this will save a lot of money. The lifetime cost of an untreated person with autism is $3.7 million, mostly in around-the-clock adult care. With access to therapies, the average cost is cut in half. This will result in $14 billion in savings to Michigan. Of that amount, $1.5 billion will be savings to the schools. The high costs of not helping these kids is in our taxes today.

Michigan can't afford to waste billions of dollars, force families to choose between bankruptcy or leaving the state. Those who oppose Senate Bills 414 and 415, which would provide therapies for children with autism, have not come up with one viable option in the six years of Michigan's debate. They propose to let the schools handle this issue. Really? Schools proving medical therapies? Schools should teach.

The Michigan Legislature should move rapidly on Senate Bills 414 and 415. This will save Michigan at least $14 billion and do what the adults are supposed to do — take care of our children. It is an easy choice. It is Pure Michigan.

About the author: David E. Meador of Troy, executive vice president and chief financial officer for DTE Energy, is also the co-founder of the Autism Alliance of Michigan and the father of a 15-year-old with autism.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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