CLICK HERE to read the entire Illinois Public Act 099-0788

Recently, a new Autism Awareness Act was signed into Illinois law, Public Act 99-0788. This new Act recognizes the increased incidence of autism while also encouraging a greater awareness for the detection and treatment of underlying and co-occurring medical conditions that occur in persons with autism. The law also specifies some rights of those with autism and their parents when seeking appropriate medical care.

Laura Cellini, an Illinois parent, brought the legislation to Senator Don Harmon (Oak Park, IL) after hearing many stories of children being denied medically necessary care because they had autism and seeing, firsthand, the difference accurate medical treatment meant for her own son.

"Individuals with autism have a myriad of co-occurring medical conditions which are often overlooked and disregarded. Health care providers should be strongly encouraged to evaluate for these co-occurring and underlying conditions when clinical symptoms are present. It’s not uncommon for persons with autism to experience discriminatory medical practices when healthcare providers mistakenly attribute their symptoms as behavioral rather than conducting appropriate medical testing," said Laura Cellini.

The law states that scientific inquiry is providing evidence of biological markers that may be clinically significant in the provision of appropriate medical care for persons also diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

One co-occurring condition with autism is primary immunodeficiency. The law prevents insurers from delaying, interrupting or discontinuing immune gamma globulin therapy for patients diagnosed with a primary immunodeficiency when diagnosed and prescribed by a physician as this is life-sustaining for these medically fragile patients.

Cellini adds, "We’ve been very fortunate to have some remarkable support from our bill sponsors, Senator Don Harmon and Representative Jay Hoffman. Numerous members of the Illinois General Assembly have shown they are committed to helping create better laws that help persons with autism and we are grateful for their efforts. With the passage of this new Act it is our hope that the medical community will be open to learning more about how to treat those with autism.”

CLICK HERE to read the entire Illinois Public Act 099-0788

From Wrightslaw.com

If you cannot testify at due process, how can you tell the administrative law judge or hearing officer what happened in your IEP meeting? Your follow-up letters can "testify" for you.

Don't let your recordings of IEP meetings sit in a file collecting dust. Put them to good use! Write a follow-up letter that re-states what the team discussed and agreed to provide. Your follow-up letter must be accurate. Your recording of the IEP meeting will come in handy.

Pete Wright says, prepare AS IF you are going to go to due process - that will help keep you OUT of due process. If you do end up in due process, your letters increase your chances of prevailing.

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From EpidemicAnswers.org

Today we live in a world of full of toxins and potential toxic exposures. Every inch of the planet has been exposed to some human tampering that has affected the air, water, soil, climate, food supply, homes, and businesses. Some of the most common toxins include: arsenic, mercury, aluminum, lead, fluoride, cadmium, plastics (BPA), phthalates, solvents, mold, mycotoxins, endotoxins, bromine, carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, PCBs, DDT, PBDEs, and electromagnetic smog just to name a few.

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