(Insert Snappy Title Here)

I'm not feeling real creative today, so I can't think of a good title that will make you want to keep reading...

But, in case you've held on this long, I have a few things to tell you about:

• Until March 30th, you can view "Autism: The Musical" on HBO.com. I haven't watched it yet, but I've read that it really let people see what it's like living with Autism in your family. Here's part of a review from the NY Times:
  

  Ms. Hall’s troupe is not very representative of the spectrum of autism — the most difficult types of children are not in evidence here — and for the first two-thirds of the film, viewers unfamiliar with the condition might be thinking, “These kids don’t look so bad off.” But around the one-hour mark, when Ms. Hall’s 12-year-old slams a smaller child to the ground for no reason, the film begins to show some of autism’s more disturbing manifestations. And you start to see why these parents are so frazzled.

  Click the image to watch the movie. You can pre-order the DVD here.
  
  
• There is a rally to support the Autism Insurance Bills at the Capitol in Lansing on April 22. I sent handouts into Chase's school, so I'm starting to get calls about it. I love feeling like I'm making a difference. Click the image below for more info.

• Chevy is partnering with Autism Speaks. For every person that watches a video tour of the new Malibu, they'll donate money to AS, up to 1 million dollars. Click the image below to do your part. It's only about 2 minutes long.

So, I'm pissed.

OK, so our insurance has decided not to cover Chase's speech therapy any more. And, it was only a mistake that it was covered.

The reasoning is that being a pervasive disorder, the insurance company does not feel that autism is treatable. I pretty much had the nurse who reviewed and denied the request in tears. I said, "So, you're telling me that the insurance company believes that my son is a lost cause and that treatment is useless?" It's insulting and ridiculous.

So what about someone that has HIV? Are they going to start telling those people that they're really just a lost cause and don't deserve treatment because they're not ever going to get rid of it? Cancer? People would freak out and rally to have that covered, but not this. Why? Without help and serious intervention, we are losing our children. Why doesn't anyone seem to care about that?

This therapy has been a huge factor in Chase's progression with speaking. Before we started, he didn't say Momma or Daddy. Now he uses both. If we had been denied the coverage in the beginning, I would have accepted it more easily. It is in our plan wording that speech is just covered for stroke, head injury, and congenital anomalies. The reason that it was approved was that the person compared our diagnosis to the Medicaid covered diagnoses.

I have a serious problem with the fact that the State of Michigan dictates that for Medicaid, speech therapy is covered for diagnoses such as language delays, but Physicians Health Plan does not offer any plans that do not specifically exclude all Autism Spectrum Disorders. So, even if my company wanted their insurance to cover ASDs, they could not purchase a policy that covers it.

This is why the Speaker of the State House of Representatives in Pennsylvania has introduced a bill that will force health insurance providers to cover ASD therapies up to $3000 a month.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/press/pennsylvania_autism_bill.php

http://www.repobrien.com/?sectionid=75&sectiontree=75&itemid=417

I've written some emails to my local rep to try to get him to introduce some bill in Michigan. Of course I haven't got a message back yet. I'm going to try calling today.

Anyway, if anyone has any connections to your state government, please think about trying to help. If someone high up in our State government had a personal connection to an Autistic child, I guarantee that they would introduce a bill. It's such BS how government works. Personal agendas, not anything to do with the good of the children they represent.

OK, the rant is over... for now. I'm still pissed.

April is Autism Awareness Month

What Kind of World Do You Want?
I just found out about a new way to help raise money for Autism Speaks, and all you have to do is watch a video.

Here's the description from AutismSpeaks.org:


Click the image above or go to http://whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154 to view the video and send some money to Autism Speaks. The video made me cry, I'd be interested to know if you do the same.

As if you needed an excuse to take the kids to Toys 'R' Us?
Right now you can donate money to Autism Speaks at Toys "R" Us. We did this yesterday. You can just add a little bit of money onto your order. You can also donate online at http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2474404
There's also some links to various information, including a list of toys that they recommend for autistic children.

Finally...
We also finally got our camera back. Craig had left it at the cabin in January. So now I that I don't have to count on my sister or mom to send us pictures, maybe I'll get more pictures up, more often.

Update
Over the weekend, Chase did pretty good. He's been pushing Cory a little more often, but we're working on that. He started saying "Pink", although it sounds more like "Tink". He also got on his little Harley Powerwheels yesterday and LOVED it! I did take a picture with my new phone, but now I have to figure out how to get the picture somewhere besides on my phone... I might need to figure out my phone number first...

Please support me in Walk for Autism Research

Visit my walking site to sponsor me!

I recently accepted the challenge of walking in the Autism Speaks' Walk for Autism Research fund-raising event. Walk for Autism Research is the signature fundraising event of Autism Speaks and is the nation's largest Walk program dedicated to autism research. Since its inception in May 2000 approximately 171,000 people have participated in Walk for Autism Research and collectively 65 events have raised over $18.3 million for autism research.

I am asking you to help by supporting my fund raising efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference. Together we can make a difference by advancing and accelerating autism research. It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make your donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message. If you would prefer, you can also send your tax-deductible contribution to the address listed below. More information on Autism Speaks, its programs and autism in general can be found at their website: www.autismspeaks.org

Any amount, great or small, helps. I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Visit my walking site to sponsor me! Or, join our team: Jacktown Walkers.

Please Help Support Autism Reseach!

I know that I've been off for awhile. Before I do an update on Chase, please consider sending a letter to your Representative to encourage them to support fully funding the Combating Autism Act. Click here for more information. It only takes a minute or two, figures out who to send it to, and the letter is already prepared. All you have to do is enter your name and address, and then click Send.

Since I last wrote, we have had two really good weeks. Chase has been doing good with the diet, but we had some minor infractions. One was I guess not really minor, he had both dairy and wheat. The next day, his stools were pretty loose, but back to normal the next day. I didn't notice any behavioral issues, and believe me, I was watching! The only thing that I did notice was that he woke up in the night, but he's been doing that randomly the past month or so.

He's gained more eye contact and speech, and he's initiating contact a lot more. For example, he takes off his pants behind the couch, so that I can't see him. Then, he comes over to me and smiles at me. If I pretend not to notice, he starts fake sneezing. When I look at him and say, "Where are your pants?" he laughs and sometimes says, "Where'da go?" It's pretty cute.

I wonder if the B12 shots are helping. He's been more "with it" these last two weeks. I'm thinking that we'll keep him on the shots this next month, and possibly try adding some gluten back in. (I think the dairy is more of a problem.)

We have an appointment with the DAN! doctor soon, but of course, I can't remember when it is... I better call.

Chase was sick on Monday. He woke up with a nasty cough, and I had to take him to the urgent care clinic. By the time we saw the doctor, he wasn't coughing anymore, so I thought, "Great. Another doctor rolling his eyes at me." But, to my surprise, the doctor said Chase's lungs sounded bad. He had to have a shot, breathing treatment (which went surprisingly well), and medicine. Of course, he hasn't taken any of the amoxicillin, but he seems fine now. Never had a fever.

I did wonder one thing: The cake I made for Cory's birthday dinner was GFCF, but I used some whole milk in the frosting. I totally forgot and poured it in. I wonder if that really could have been enough to make him sick like that. Interesting...






Here's the pretty cake I made. I totally suck at lettering. It was REALLY good! It was a mix from The Really Great Food Company. They have the BEST mixes. Everyone liked it. You couldn't tell it was GFCF at all. Cory approves!