Autistic Children Wait for Help; Getting Into Medicaid Program Takes a Year; Families Struggle to Afford Intensive Therapies

Summary

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In the debate over early intervention therapy for Wisconsin's growing population of children diagnosed with autism - and who should pay for it - one thing is clear: Hundreds of children with autism aren't getting the therapeutic aid many medical experts say represents their best hope of attaining a normal life.

Although there is no known cure for autism spectrum disorders, or developmental disorders characterized by impairments of social functioning and both verbal and non-verbal communication, studies show that some children with autism are able to achieve near-normal functioning through a rigorous combination of speech, occupational and physical therapies.

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Extract

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Autistic Children Wait for Help; Getting Into Medicaid Program Takes a Year; Families Struggle to Afford Intensive Therapies

But these therapies are expensive, and the waiting list for the state's popular Medicaid waiver program, which covers intensive therapy for autistic children, is up to 1 years and counting. So some desperate parents are spending thousands of dollars.

Racine resident Hasmig Tempest...

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