Submitted by: Dannah Chappell, BCBA 

Our favorite month of the year is almost here! April is Autism Awareness month and there will be countless events around town to help us spread awareness about Autism and get involved in the community. It has been nearly 25 years since the Autism Society launched the nationwide effort to promote autism awareness and inclusion. Their main goal is to assure that each person with ASD is provided the opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life. In addition to Autism Awareness Month, this year will be the ninth annual World Autism Awareness Day—celebrated on April 2 by “lighting it up blue” all around our communities and the world!

How is Autism Awareness Month celebrated?

• Presidential and Congressional declarations
• Online events and activities
  • Businesses such as GameStop offer options for in-store and online donations during the month of April
  • Many apps and educational games/programs are available during April for a discounted price
• Local events and activities through affiliates
  • Autism Speaks Walks: follow this link to find a walk near you https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageServer;jsessionid=00000000.app30117a?pagename=walk_homepage&NONCE_TOKEN=C0A037572D2CD9353CAF091E355A7DEF#find-your-walk
  • Autism Awareness Resources Fairs
  • Many school districts will partner with the local parent support groups to create family fun days
  • See this site to find resources and events near you: https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-guide

What can you do?

• Sign up for e-newsletter Autism Mattersto continue sharing ideas on how to make a better world for autism.
• Sport the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon wherever you go. It is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 68 children in America. You can show your support by pinning a ribbon on your shirt, putting a magnet on your car, or even a badge on your blog/social media page. To purchase the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon, follow this link: https://dsiresources.com/Home.aspx.
• Go to autismspeaks.org/liub for more information on World Autism Awareness Day and for links to purchase blue items.
• If you are a parent of a child with ASD:

• Try to attend all the local events and activities in your area. Don’t feel pressured to stay for long.
• Encourage family members, coworkers, friends to share information on ASD and attend the local events and activities in your community.

Encourage your children’s schools to participate in Light it Up Blue but using the Puzzle Piece Project Tool Kit. This project was created by special education teachers to be used in schools to raise awareness and understanding about ASD in other children. You can find more information about this project at: https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/puzzle-piece-project-tool-kit

The post April is Autism Awareness Month appeared first on Reaching Milestones.

Submitted by: Beth Vaughan

Our very own Jamie Redding (Senior Vice President) and Missy Rolison (Vice President of Operations) for Reaching Milestones recently took a trip to Washington, DC last week to meet with members of the United States Congress. The mission of the trip was an extremely important one for all of us involved in both the Autism and Military communities.

Recently, it has become difficult for many military families to find in-network specialists for their children who have been diagnosed with Autism. According to a group of US Senators, this is in part, due to the way federal officials have changed health insurance plan reimbursements earlier this year. A group of six lawmaking senators (including North Carolina’s Thom Tillis) are calling for Congress to reverse the reimbursement cuts via additional funding and sent a letter to federal funding decision makers last week, asking for this very serious issue to be addressed. The letter asks for leaders on the House and Senate appropriations committees to include $32 million in upcoming budget legislation. That money is expected to effectively reverse the reimbursement rate cuts and address the shortage of ABA therapy providers.

According to the Senators, the reimbursement issue arose after Defense Health Agency officials changed the rate that TRICARE pays medical providers (such as Reaching Milestones) for Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. Through TRICARE, military beneficiaries diagnosed with ASD are eligible to receive ABA treatment. The Academy of Pediatrics fully supports and endorses ABA as an effective treatment for individuals with Autism. A Report of the Surgeon General states, “Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior. The ABA treatment program is used by nearly half of the 26,000 children covered by TRICARE who have been diagnosed with Autism.

On April 1, 2016, the DHA imposed reimbursement rate cuts of as much as 15% for ABA services in most areas of the country. These cuts were imposed despite indications from military families from across the country that they were experiencing ABA provider shortages; and, in some locations, families had no access to providers at all. Just this week, 3 providers in San Diego were forced to shut their doors and a major ABA provider in the Georgia area had to close down all but one of their locations because they could not afford to stay open.

The House and Senate has already approved the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2017 to include reinstating ABA reimbursement rates. However, that bill does not appropriate federal funding for such costs and final approval of the budget is expected later this year (most likely December).

Missy and Jamie personally met with 10 members of the US Senate and were very enthused by the conversations that took place. They were able to lock in signatures from these representatives and came back to Jacksonville feeling very positive about the potential outcome.

This mission is far from over, and the efforts to reverse the rates don’t stop with the Jamie, Missy and the group of Senators. We need YOUR help! Sign the petition. Voice your opinions and concerns. Let TRICARE and Congress know how important ABA is for the future of your children. Progress is made every single day with ABA. Please contact your local congressman and senators to voice your opinion and let them know how important this is to all of us!

The post Be the Change! appeared first on Reaching Milestones.

Dr. Lee Wilkinson of www.bestpracticeautism.com has quite a few useful recommendations for ASD households.  He suggests that you decorate in gradual stages, introducing the different decorations after your child has had time to adjust to the changes in the environment.  If possible, allow your child to help hang the decorations.  Dr. Wilkinson also warns that flashing lights or musical decorations can disturb some children.  When you are out shopping or perhaps enjoying the seasonal drive to look at your neighbors’ lights, gauge your child’s reactions.  This information may help you in choosing your own household decorations.

Speaking of going shopping, Dr. Wilkinson makes an excellent point when he says to avoid last minute holiday shopping with your child, if you can.  Your child may have well-established routines that might be ruined by such a hectic outing.  The holidays are already chaotic enough, aren’t they?  If you must take your child shopping, Dr. Wilkinson suggests allowing time for your child to adapt to the shopping environment.  The holidays tend to bring out bright lights, loud noises, and lots of moving people.  Once your child has had time to get used to the holiday shopping environment.  As always, provide positive behavior support for socially acceptable behaviors.

Meetings with the family to make such behavioral support a team effort may help.  Minimizing disruptions for the child and determining rewards for positive behavior when the inevitable disruption occurs should be part of the agenda.  If you are going to have visitors staying with you this season, make sure they understand your child’s condition and how they can be a part of this wonderful holiday experience.

When it comes to gift giving, Dr. Wilkinson suggests that we help our children learn that wrapped gifts are to be opened when the family has gathered.  He recommends presenting the child with a wrapped gift and rewarding him or her for not opening it.

For more of Dr. Wilkinson’s insightful article, visit http://www.examiner.com/article/autism-and-the-holidays-reducing-stress-for-families

What about buying gifts for your child?  While toys and entertainment devices may seem like a natural choice this season, consider this: Autism treatments afford parents the opportunity to be deeply involved with their child’s educational attainment, both during treatment sessions and otherwise.  Why not use the holiday season to build upon your child’s growing love of learning?  www.nationalautismresources.com has several gift options for your child.  Games, toys, and puzzles that are both fun and educational can provide enjoyment and learning at home.

Of course, if you have any questions about managing this holiday season or wonderful gift ideas, you can contact Reaching Milestones with BCS at 904-579-3280.  Happy holidays from all of us at Reaching Milestones with BCS!!!

The post Enjoying the Holidays: Some Guidelines for Parents of Children With ASDs appeared first on Reaching Milestones.