Undergoing early intervention programs is vastly considered as a vital step for children with autism spectrum disorder to achieve their potential. A mother from Midlothian, Virginia agreed that early intervention works for autistic kids, but unfortunately, it is not being provided properly during the preschool years.
Early Intervention Programs Are Working For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wendy Wender, a mother of an autistic boy named Milo, spoke to NBC 12 in an attempt to create awareness that early intervention programs are indeed working for children with autism spectrum disorder and her son is the proof. Unfortunately, though, the Virginia mom said that not all autistic kids are being provided with proper early intervention program during the preschool years.
Wender narrated that her son Milo, who was diagnosed with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder when he was 18 months old, used to behave like a "wild animal." The Virginia mom said that after undergoing an early intervention program known as Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA therapy for almost a year, Milo has now improved a lot.
ABA therapy has been validated by many studies as an effective early intervention program for children with autism spectrum disorder. Past research studies found that this early intervention program is highly effective in honing basic communication, play, motor and daily living skills of autistic kids.
Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Not Getting Proper Early Intervention Programs
Wender stated that it is very unfortunate that the federal government has made ABA therapy out of reach from families of children with autism spectrum disorder. The Virginia mom said that the federal government thought that the early intervention program is a mistake.
Now that the government removed the early intervention program, Wender said that she is worried about Milo's future. She also added that she feels bad for other parents whose children with autism spectrum disorder did not get ABA therapy. The Virginia mom pointed out that without the government, ABA therapy can be very expensive and not all families can afford it.
"They are not getting their right to thrive as a human being, our basic human rights," Wender asserted. With these, the Virginia mom is urging families of children with autism spectrum disorder to contact their lawmakers and encourage them to make early intervention programs like ABA therapy be accessible again.
Share your thoughts about the inaccessibility of proper early intervention programs for preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder. Leave some comments below.
