Below is a post from the White House blog by Kathleen Sebelius. It dates from April 25, but I thought it worth presenting here. Given that this from a government website, I feel OK copying it in whole here.
Helping every American with autism achieve their full potential is one of this administration’s top priorities. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we continue to strive to meet the complex needs of all people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families. While there is no cure, early intervention is critical and can greatly improve a child’s development.
Perhaps the biggest step we’ve taken to support those affected by autism and their families happened over a year ago, with the signing of the Affordable Care Act. Now, new insurance plans are required to cover autism screening and developmental assessments for children at no cost to parents. Insurers will also no longer be allowed to deny children coverage for a pre-existing condition such as ASD or to set arbitrary lifetime or annual limits on benefits.
Also, thanks to the new law, young adults are allowed to stay on their family health insurance until they turn 26. For a young adult with autism spectrum disorder and their family, that means peace of mind. It means more flexibility, more options, and more opportunity to reach their full potential.
Ultimately, there is more support for Americans with autism than ever before. This means more promise of new breakthroughs that will help us understand autism even better. But in order to continue meeting the needs of people with autism, the Combating Autism Act must be fully reauthorized. We still have a long way to go. Working collaboratively with important partners, the Affordable Care Act and the Combating Autism Act will allow us to continue important research and develop and refine vital treatments.
There are still many unknowns. However, one thing is certain. We will continue to work harder than ever to find solutions and provide support to individuals with ASD and their families. Together, we can help reduce disparities and allow everyone to actualize their greatest potential.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf
Left Brain Right Brain 
I guess if you’re 26 or over, you’re out of luck. Great progress there.
Rachel beat me to it.
Also-it’s so adorable that they think that every autistic person’s parents care about them enough to keep them on insurance. So quaint. So completely out of touch with reality.
*nods at Rachel’s and Kassiane’s observations*
[Kassiane say] I guess if you’re 26 or over, you’re out of luck. Great progress there…
COMMENT
if one is a special needs person you are out of luck, regardless of age…well, suppose there is progress: there are no snakes pits…tho some times you must wonder…
in USA much feel good legislation…little or no enforcement and never fully funded…then the under funded programs are the first victims of balancing a budget…you have no civil rights.
you are the victim of the “slings and arrows of an outrageous society”…
stanley seigler
Stanley: “you are the victim of the ‘slings and arrows of an outrageous society’…”
*nods at Stanley’s use of Shakespeare*
David, thanks for the nod…it gave me seconds thought, which should have been a first thought…
my comments are cynical and mostly negative…however, it is not all bad…the good:
many/most special needs folks trump society with the cards they are dealt…play the cards wonderfully…and are an inspiration to our outrageous society…maybe the catalyst to change human nature…
probably not in my life time tho.
stanley seigler
To hell with “inspiration” and “overcoming adversity”.
I just want to be myself without anyone making a big thing of it.
Thanks, Stanley. Mind you, I’m very much with Kassiane when she talks about wanting to be herself without it being made a big thing of.
The reason why there’s such a big thing is that society is wont to try to exclude people who are different for whatever reason and to whatever extent. In essence, society makes the big thing of it by looking for ways to not allow us to be ourselves and to develop to our potentials. We end up having to fight for what is ours by right. And this is what we fight against every day. If society were more inclusive, we wouldn’t have this struggle going on and we could get on with being alive and achieving our potentials as human beings.
*sigh*
One of the things I was working on as a research technician many years ago was communication systems for people with speech-based disabilities.
[DNA say] I’m very much with Kassiane when she talks about wanting to be herself without it being made a big thing of.
me too…but it is hard not making a big thing of it…should we just ignore hawking…no big thing!
stanley seigler