Military Families: Let Congress Hear Your Voice!

On January 31, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative John Larson (D-CT) will host a briefing on Capitol Hill on the challenges faced by military families raising children with autism.

Please share your story by creating a 30 to 45 second video response. To get started, click in the comments box below, where it says "Respond to this video".

Next, click the "Create a video response" link that appears below the comments box.

On the next screen, click "Upload a video" near the top of the page. Then, click the blue "Start" button. You will then be able to upload a video file from your computer or record a new response video using your web cam.

Watch a response video here: http://youtu.be/qc1Jum6quVI

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• autism
• military
• tricare
• Army

[eastariel]

Some generals are so annoying, always walking around with clipboards, giving instructions to the mechanics, making sure everything is working PERFECTLY. Then they drag themselves in front of camera after camera, begging media, Congress, and the taxpayers to supply decent, safe equipment to their soldiers.

They're just so picky about what their soldiers drive and fly and wear. All they ever do is save, save, save their soldiers who are protecting, defending, and entertaining their nation.

[luxeshop]

Let me know if I can help by sharing my voice - here is my National Anthem for you!

peace, Hunter's Voice

[andrewkilroyable]

Every military parent who wants to waste their money on an organisation suffocating autistics and wasting a vast part of its budget will donate to Autism Speaks.

Anyone with an ounce of respect for the truth will find another autism organisation to support. E.g. The Dan Marino foundation

[katjaworld1]

Another major issue is having to move every 2-4 years. EFMP should allow military families with a child with autism to be permanently assigned.Each move brings with it long waitlists for therapists. New teachers have to get to know him again and want to see what works because even with an IEP in place every school does things differently. Our kids struggle socially and they have to try and make new friends. They thrive on consistency and routine but have to start all over again with every move.

[kmtkbest]

My son is 10 and has Asperger Syndrome. It took 7 years of seeing different doctors/specialist/therapists to get concrete diagnosis. We only got that diagnosis because we moved home during a deployment and were seen at the University of Michigan through an autism study that was free. The only OT services where we are currently stationed are through the school and that leaves a lot to be desired. The Military Treatment Facilities need to make more services available for children on the spectrum.

[KVolpendesta]

Our 6 year old son has autism, but because my husband is retired, he is not eligible to receive ABA through TRICARE. He has been receiving ST and OT for over 4 years, and has made tremendous progress, but we still struggle daily with issues that could be effectively addressed by the one therapy that is proven to help kids on the spectrum....ABA. We can't afford the $100 for out of pocket therapy, so I do the best I can by researching and trying to do it myself, but it's not the same.

[thumper6423]

Even when we milfamilies get approved for services, they're not always available. Our youngest son needs OT. There was a 3 month wait. The facility we were approved for had a traveling OT. After 5 months, she leaves this week. They have no replacement, and now we will have a gap in services, when he's come so far, until they get a replacement. We need consistency in care. This is just a small portion of our story since I'm only allowed 300 characters here.

[MarriedAKing]

I am active duty. Our son has Autism. He will be 3 yo soon. Deployment schedules prevent us from keeping a solid routine which is essential to his developmental improvement. My son's speech and occupational development are not improving much. My husband also works full-time to support our living costs. It is almost impossible for us to attend appointments with therapists. We need a program to assist with the living costs so the civilian parent can stay home to care for our son's needs.

[jlrmhilton]

Nice job AS!!! Thanks so much for the support. Looking forward to next weeks presentations.