Services for Autism: The next thing to be targeted by fascists as "waste fraud & abuse!"

[K8-EEE]

As seen on a right wing board -- all the buzzwords are there. Monsters. All the buzzwords are there, believe me, this is going to be a full-scale war on the government services provided to the developmentally disabled, and it will be gleefully embraced by the so-called "pro-life."

http://news.investors.com/articleprint/612674/201205241856/autism-hysteria-creates-new-federal-welfare-system.aspx

[jpbollma]

1. The "pro-life"

are always gleeful about ruining actual lives.

[K8-EEE]

2. Especially lives that don't create "capital."

These people are the real "death panels." If you can't be used by them to make money your life has no value.

[MadHound]

3. Well, the article does make a point,

A lot of kids are being swept up into the ASD category who simply don't belong there. I work with the developmentally disabled in a public school, and know kids who have gotten the ASD tag who simply shouldn't. Yet they convinced a doctor, and are now able to get federal and state money for their child.

The trouble with this is that it waste precious school resources. The time we spend needlessly working with this kid could be better spent on helping those with real problems. It is not fair to the school, and more importantly not fair to the kid who is suffering under a misdiagnosis, and a label that he will carry for a long time, if not the rest of his life. Not to mention the fact that this kid is being needlessly drugged.

Twenty years ago we had another similar problem, only at the time it was with ADHD. Any kid who was normal, energetic, perhaps a bit of a a behavior problem, was getting slapped with the label of ADHD, getting drugged out of their skull, getting slapped into special programs, and school districts had to waste a ton of money on kids whose only real problem was that they were normal, albeit rowdy, kids.

Misdiagnosis is a common occurrence in the psychological field, and many times there tends to be a bandwagon effect. It is wise to acknowledge this fact rather than condemn those who point it out. Because by pointing it out, we can correct the problem, thus freeing up resources for those who truly do need help.

[RedCappedBandit]

5. I also work with developmentally disabled..

The guys I work with are very obviously in need of assistance so I can't comment on the misdiagnosis (although I am sure you bring up a very important point).

I did want to comment on some of these people being needlessly drugged though, because it is very true. I see people basically being slowly poisoned to death by medications, and then treated with more medications to mask the side effects, which in turn requires even more medication to mask THOSE side effects. It's ridiculous, especially when in my experience as a direct care counselor, the guys seem to be much happier WITHOUT many of those medications to begin with.

Not to discredit the importance of an appropriate medication regimen. Just seems to be overdone in many cases.

[MadHound]

6. Oh, don't get me started on over-medicating

Far too many of the developmentally disabled are literally zonked on drugs. They can't learn, they can't function, they simply shuffle from place to place.

This is being done for two reasons. On the corporate side of the equation, this practice makes big bucks for Big Pharma. On the caregiver side, this makes it easier for caregivers to control their charges. Rather than sitting down and trying to understand and deal with the problems of these people, far too many simply want to dose them up and go on.

[K8-EEE]

8. My 18 year old autistic daughter has self injurious behaviors that are treated effectively with

medical marijuana. She has been prescribed all the regular drugs - risperdol, calexa, xanex. But I just got the Rx's so I could qualify her for the alternative treatment. She has a legal rec.

Anybody who has not dealt 24/7 with a self-injurious autistic adult with little or no language -- don't tell me how bad I am for seeking out meds please!! She takes a tincture under the tongue and is MORE FOCUSED, VERBAL AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED when she has it than when she doesn't. Thank GOD it is legal here. These kids are needlessly on much harsher drugs. This is working for us and no side effects. It has been like a miracle for our family -- if the Feds can just stay out of it please!

[Zorra]

12. + trillions upon zillions

[MadHound]

13. I was talking more about overmedicating the developmentally disabled in general,

Not specific cases like yours. I'm glad that you found something that works with your daughter. Nor do I disagree with with the fact that certain developmentally disabled people need medication of one sort or another to help bring some normalcy to their lives. I have no problem in those cases with proscribing the necessary medication.

However having worked in the field in one form or fashion for fifteen years(including stints as "live in" in a group home), knowing the literature and cases over an expanded time frame, I can say with certainty that there is indeed an epidemic of overmedication afflicting the developmentally disabled, and has been for years. I'm not attacking you personally when I am saying that, I am simply stating a fact that anybody with any honesty who works in the field will acknowledge.

Frankly I'm glad that things are working well with your daughter, I would rather she be on MM than Xanex or some other such drug.

[K8-EEE]

16. I understand that many people are over medicated

But you have worked as a staff member of a group home -- imagine what it is like for a regular family with no support to have to deal with autistic symptoms, including violent ones, with no support.

Also the article seems to push a "Catch 22" that we all have dealt with in the fight to get appropriate school placement etc. If something works (for instance my daughter was mostly non-verbal until she started speech therapy) it's no longer needed or probably wasnt needed in the first place (she had NO language or eye contact at age 4.) If something doesn't work it's "waste."

Even if people don't give a shit about DD people, providing support IS COST EFFECTIVE!! If the parents don't at least get nighttime respite for people who need supervision 24/7, the person will end up institutionalized at taxpayer expense VERY EXPENSIVE! If they send support help out to the families it keeps the person living at home and provides jobs for the much-needed caregivers.

I am lucky enough to not need home nursing in my situation now but my heart breaks for those who do, and who will see the services cut and cut and cut.

[Odin2005]

21. I know a fellow high-functioning autistic person who is definitely over-medicated.

He is always groggy because he's on the anti-psychotic Risperdal. ANYONE who prescribes an anti-psychotic medication to an autistic person with no history of actual, genuine psychosis should have his or her medical license pulled.

[K8-EEE]

24. But can I tell you something?

It's not ANYONE who prescribes Risperdol -- IT'S EVERYONE!! Autistic psychology REGARDLESS OF IF THEY ARE HIGH OR LOW FUNCTIONING flat out baffles the shrinks. They try to apply "typical" type logic to a brain that is not neuro-typical and then they just try to MAKE the brain typical with drugs. You can bring them to 10 shrinks (I probably have) and they go, "self injurious behavior? Autism? Let's start out on .05 dose of Resperdol." I had seen the effects of it and refused to give it to her. Luckily I found a medical marijuana doctor who would treat her and the results were amazing. She'd go from wildly unhappy, screaming and biting herself, to happy and focused within 20 minutes no side effects. And unlike the standard drugs she can take as needed. On her calm days she doesn't need anything and experiences no withdrawals.

[Zorra]

4. If there was ever any doubt that RWers are sociopaths, that doubt ends here and now.

Denying children the help they need, and denying their need for help. OMG.

That's some serious fascist filth right there. It's utterly disgusting.

I work with clients diagnosed with severe autism 3 days a week.

Our budget has already been cut drastically, twice, over the past three years.

Republicans suck. They are the manifestation of legal evil in the United States.

These fascist pigs can take their austerity and shove it up their ass. I'm donating to Wisconsin Dems again right now to help them get rid of Scott Walker, then to Elizabeth Warren and Alan Grayson, the ACLU, and by god I'm even going to go back on my word and donate to the Obama campaign.


No quarter for fascist pigs.

[K8-EEE]

19. They seem hell bent on demonizing EVERY US CITIZEN ON ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE

Including DISABLED PEOPLE!

CORPORATE WELFARE IS FINE THOUGH....

[Initech]

7. Yup they are monsters all right.

And of course you won't hear a fucking peep about how much we spend on our military - which is literally like twice as much as the rest of the world combined.

[K8-EEE]

9. Because they are invested in war profiteering and you can bet if Mittens gets in

We will get ourselves a new war, "private contractors" and all....and nobody will be screaming 'WE'RE BROKE WE'RE BROKE' either. Broke countries don't invade other countries -- and yet this is what they are always advocating, the usual suspects make out like bandits and we will be left "paying" by forfeiting our government to the robber barons.

[Initech]

18. If Romney gets in - you can bet your ass Iran is toast.

They're setting it up now - the last thing we need is another pointless war for profit - that would be suicide for the US. We need to get the far right out of office and then ban them the way Germany did - I know it sounds extreme but this party has caused nothing but pain and suffering for the highest dollar and they need to go.

[Zorra]

10. And furthermore, can you say, "blame the victims"?....

The hardship imposed upon most parents of children with severe autism is inestimable. It is always life altering, and can be emotionally and financially devastating. I know lots of these parents. I see what happens.

Trust me on this - You have no idea.

Denying assistance to impoverished parents of children with autism is almost as sick and cruel as denying assistance to the children themselves.

These disgusting fascist zombie pigs will joyfully use the money they deny children with autism to enrich war profiteers and the oil industry.

[K8-EEE]

11. Oh and you can bet Ms. "Advocate of Special Needs" Sarah Palin will not be bothered

When Down's Syndrome kids lose their ALREADY CUT TO THE GILS work and school programs. She's a millionaire now so fuck everyone else.

[LeftishBrit]

14. Unfortunately, this particular aspect of right-wing views - whipping up hatred and distrust for

disabled people, especially those with invisible disabilities - is a big current problem in the UK too. Even visible disabilities if it comes to that.

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/05/17/why-doesnt-iain-duncan-smith-trust-a-doctors-decision/

Of course, the vile Cristina Odone is on the nasty side (and she is a strong 'pro-lifer'):

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100157702/iain-duncan-smith-must-not-give-in-to-disability-bullies/

Typically, she does not distinguish between invalidity benefit and disability living allowance. DLA is not just for the unemployed; it is to help people with disability-related living expense. Many people on DLA do work - and might not be able to if they lost the allowance, since it may requre them for example to own a car or take taxis to get to work, and unless they are high earners this may be prohibitive.

There are some people on the right, both in government and in the media, who seem to HATE the disabled (and indeed the vulnerable of any sort).

[hifiguy]

15. Speaking as a person dx'd on the ADS

this is beyond cruel. This is genuinely psychopathic. Fuck these asshats, their enablers and the horses they rode in on. Calling this disgraceful doesn't even begin to make the point.

[K8-EEE]

17. Every person who has dealt with these challenges should be forwarding this

to every advocacy group there is -- I can guarantee there is more of this coming.

Services for the developmentally disabled are ALREADY CUT TO THE BONE!!

[Odin2005]

20. The Nazis "euthanized" the disabled. We are "unworthy of life" to these SOBs.

[K8-EEE]

23. The disabled are "the takers" and don't "work hard" like Mitt & Ann

BULLSHIT!! If they only knew the challenges some people face - like climbing Mt. Everest to do things we all take for granted. What kind of crappy society doesn't provide for the general welfare of their most vulnerable citizens? Not one I would like to live in.....

[dawg]

22. I don't think I can even put into words how angry this makes me.

Conservatives are not fully human.

[loyalsister]

25. A sincere discussion of "waste, fraud, and abuse" would address institutionalization

and the attitudes that have led to the current problems of overmedication, treatments to placate caregivers, and the medical\institutional model that marginalizes people who have developmental disabilities.

"Specialists" have long been referring people to unnecessary medical treatments in pursuit of fixing the person. This is not in the interest of money. It was born out of dehumanization and disregard for the adaptations that are available to people with disabilities.
This is not partisan. Common goals arise from disregard, outright disgust, and pity\misguided sympathy and kindness.