PCS is a common abbreviation this time of year for military families. It stands for permanent change of station, and summer is when most military moves take place. As a result of PCS, military children will move an average of six to nine times until they finish high school. This is three times the national…
“For many families whose child receives a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder, hearing the news can be overwhelming. It’s rewarding for me to be able to help them figure out what the next steps are and connect them to the right services. When they leave feeling like they are on the right track and…
This week, we wanted to share a special opporutnity for military teens with disabilities, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorders. Read below for more information: Join Northeast Passage, an adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation organization, for their second annual Military Teen Winter Adventure Camp. This camp, designed for teens (ages 14-18) with disabilities…
On July 26, 2012, Federal District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the landmark case of Berge et al. v. United States of America, a class-action lawsuit initially filed by a retired Air Force couple. Judge Walton called it both “arbitrary and capricious” that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), widely…
OAR frequently receives questions from military reservists and their spouses regarding their eligibility for services through the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) for their dependents with autism. ECHO coverage is available for dependents of active duty military members who are enrolled in Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). Accessed through the military healthcare program, TRICARE provides…
Shelly Huhtanen originally wrote this column for Exceptional Parent Magazine as part of its Military section in its April 2011 issue. She is a columnist and advocate for people with autism as well as an active-duty military wife and mother to two sons, Hayden, 6, and Broden, 5. Her husband, Mark, is a major in…
“Nearly three years ago I did not know a thing about autism,” says Navy Petty Officer First Class Justin Osborne. That was the day the doctor diagnosed his son, Jacob, who will turn 5 in May, with autism. While he left the doctor’s office understanding what autism was, he and his wife, Sarah, had no…
Note to readers: In each issue of The OARacle, we provide a helpful resource on a topic of interest within the autism community. This month’s article focuses on ensuring health care coverage for children with autism and suggestions for parents on successfully advocating for their child. For many families affected by autism, financing costly treatments…
