Comments for Everybody's Boy http://www.everybodysboy.com Autism Spoken Here Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Secret by Irma http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/02/06/secret/#comment-19327 Irma Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:13 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=710#comment-19327 I am thankful for you and your blog. My "pretty" is challenged as well. I feel at times to sad for words and have tried to talk to my family but they dont understand. When I read your blog I see that I am not alone and that it can be done. I love my my "pretty" with all my heart and he makes me happy that I will continue do to all I can for him. Thanks for your blog, writings.. etc. I truely appreciate this. I am thankful for you and your blog. My “pretty” is challenged as well. I feel at times to sad for words and have tried to talk to my family but they dont understand. When I read your blog I see that I am not alone and that it can be done. I love my my “pretty” with all my heart and he makes me happy that I will continue do to all I can for him. Thanks for your blog, writings.. etc. I truely appreciate this.

]]> Comment on Battle Fatigue by mindy http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/21/battlefatigue/#comment-15631 mindy Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:29:40 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=701#comment-15631 Just know you are not alone. My family and I watched our son slip away 2 years ago, along with my ability to work full time, our savings, our hope that everyone was wrong and he would be fine, and time with each other and other children. It is a fight everyday. Just know you are not alone. My family and I watched our son slip away 2 years ago, along with my ability to work full time, our savings, our hope that everyone was wrong and he would be fine, and time with each other and other children. It is a fight everyday.

]]> Comment on Hey 2012, peep this… by Rachel Pack http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/03/hey-2012-peep-this/#comment-15131 Rachel Pack Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:55:23 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=689#comment-15131 I cannot wait to one day buy your book and be able to tell everyone that it is by my friend Debby who is one of the most magnificent women I know. It is an honor to be considered your friend. I cannot wait to one day buy your book and be able to tell everyone that it is by my friend Debby who is one of the most magnificent women I know. It is an honor to be considered your friend.

]]> Comment on Taking Action of Autism Insurance Reform by Adrienne Bashista http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/09/taking-action-of-autism-insurance-reform/#comment-14682 Adrienne Bashista Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:44:14 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=695#comment-14682 Debby - I think this is truly excellent and I don't have any more action to add, but I would like for you and your readers to consider that the problem isn't limited to "just" autism (although I know that autism isn't "just" anything) but to all children with private insurance who have developmental delays, sensory processing issues, learning disabilities, processing delays, mental illness, or low intelligence, and I know I'm missing a few more categories. My son does not have autism, but he has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder because his birth mother ingested alcohol when pregnant with him, and he has all of the issues I mentioned above. If our income was low enough for Medicaid his OT, Speech, mental health therapies and neurofeedback therapy would be covered. If we had adopted him from foster care instead of through a private agency he would have Medicaid. If we didn't have private insurance our LME would be able to give us services. But because we have private insurance what we do qualify for is very limited, and not everything is covered. We are really all in the same boat here! I'd just hate for change to happen and have some very needy kids left out! I wrote a blog post about this a while back - it was me wondering out loud how people decide on what to do for their child when the bank account is limited: http://www.easytolovebut.com/?p=1618 Adrienne Bashista Debby – I think this is truly excellent and I don’t have any more action to add, but I would like for you and your readers to consider that the problem isn’t limited to “just” autism (although I know that autism isn’t “just” anything) but to all children with private insurance who have developmental delays, sensory processing issues, learning disabilities, processing delays, mental illness, or low intelligence, and I know I’m missing a few more categories. My son does not have autism, but he has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder because his birth mother ingested alcohol when pregnant with him, and he has all of the issues I mentioned above. If our income was low enough for Medicaid his OT, Speech, mental health therapies and neurofeedback therapy would be covered. If we had adopted him from foster care instead of through a private agency he would have Medicaid. If we didn’t have private insurance our LME would be able to give us services. But because we have private insurance what we do qualify for is very limited, and not everything is covered. We are really all in the same boat here! I’d just hate for change to happen and have some very needy kids left out!
I wrote a blog post about this a while back – it was me wondering out loud how people decide on what to do for their child when the bank account is limited: http://www.easytolovebut.com/?p=1618
Adrienne Bashista

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by superdebby http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-13304 superdebby Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:40:15 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-13304 Thanks for your post. I agree that whenever employers can they should offer those services. In my case I work for a small nonprofit organization and the 6 of us who take benefits (majorly subsidized in our budget) we are on a small group plan - ergo there is not actually a viable or affordable option available to my employer - who would certainly offer them if we could. It sounds like you have a wonderful insurance plan. Hang on to that job! ;-) It's time to the insurance commission level the playing field for small and medium sized businesses, and of course the self-employed. I still think we can do a lot better. I hope this clears up your concerns about my specific situation. Thank you for pointing out that there are a variety of plans available and let's hope that they become accessible and available to all. Thanks for your post. I agree that whenever employers can they should offer those services. In my case I work for a small nonprofit organization and the 6 of us who take benefits (majorly subsidized in our budget) we are on a small group plan – ergo there is not actually a viable or affordable option available to my employer – who would certainly offer them if we could.

It sounds like you have a wonderful insurance plan. Hang on to that job! ;-)

It’s time to the insurance commission level the playing field for small and medium sized businesses, and of course the self-employed. I still think we can do a lot better.

I hope this clears up your concerns about my specific situation. Thank you for pointing out that there are a variety of plans available and let’s hope that they become accessible and available to all.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by nipsehtolc http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-13279 nipsehtolc Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:38:49 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-13279 While I appreciate your struggle, and I agree that legislative changes should be made, your letter confuses me on one point. You write that your private insurance company does not support services for your child because NC law does not require it. State law does not require it, but your employer could choose to offer that coverage if they paid for it. I have a son that is AU, and we live in the RTP area. We also used services through TEACCH and the CDSA early on. All our therapy services are 100% covered by our private insurance.....and it's because of the plan my employer selected. I stand behind your lobbying for changes. While you lobby for that though, please consider lobbying your employer to make a better choice the next time they review renewing the medical policy they offer. I personally know of a family that separates their banking and financial information in order to hide income and qualify for state assistance. They obviously have intelligence, and if they would just put as much effort into spearheading the changes you suggest perhaps more services would be available for those children that truly need the help. While I appreciate your struggle, and I agree that legislative changes should be made, your letter confuses me on one point.

You write that your private insurance company does not support services for your child because NC law does not require it. State law does not require it, but your employer could choose to offer that coverage if they paid for it.

I have a son that is AU, and we live in the RTP area. We also used services through TEACCH and the CDSA early on. All our therapy services are 100% covered by our private insurance…..and it’s because of the plan my employer selected.

I stand behind your lobbying for changes. While you lobby for that though, please consider lobbying your employer to make a better choice the next time they review renewing the medical policy they offer.

I personally know of a family that separates their banking and financial information in order to hide income and qualify for state assistance. They obviously have intelligence, and if they would just put as much effort into spearheading the changes you suggest perhaps more services would be available for those children that truly need the help.

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by Sandra Gleich http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-12653 Sandra Gleich Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:39:02 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-12653 Debby, I am very touched by your son's story. Not sure what "revisit" the bill entails. Can you send a link or more info? Thanks, Sandra Debby, I am very touched by your son’s story. Not sure what “revisit” the bill entails. Can you send a link or more info? Thanks, Sandra

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by Michele Moore http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-12630 Michele Moore Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:24:23 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-12630 I am a mother of a child with ADD, anxiety and a tic disorder. I so feel your pain. We have been in the mental health system for 8 years. Wright School save our family and our child. I went to legislators to advocate for Wright School a year ago when they threatened to close the school. There are not enough resources out there for our children. Hang in there. Your child is lucky to have you I am a mother of a child with ADD, anxiety and a tic disorder. I so feel your pain. We have been in the mental health system for 8 years. Wright School save our family and our child. I went to legislators to advocate for Wright School a year ago when they threatened to close the school. There are not enough resources out there for our children. Hang in there. Your child is lucky to have you

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by Cynthia A Relich http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-12620 Cynthia A Relich Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:28:48 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-12620 Please revisit and support this bill....it goes without saying how much it is needed and will benefit everyone! The above mentioned letter says it all! Thank you! Please revisit and support this bill….it goes without saying how much it is needed and will benefit everyone! The above mentioned letter says it all! Thank you!

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to North Carolina General Assembly by Brenda (mamabegood) http://www.everybodysboy.com/2012/01/07/an-open-letter-to-north-carolina-general-assembly/#comment-12613 Brenda (mamabegood) Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:48:28 +0000 http://www.everybodysboy.com/?p=691#comment-12613 Thank you for sharing your story, Debby. ((hugs)) to you and your beautiful boy - from one mama to another. Thank you for sharing your story, Debby. ((hugs)) to you and your beautiful boy – from one mama to another.

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