Goldfish ate my clock cycles -

[kyburg]

There's a follow up post brewing in the back of my mind, but I'm out of spare moments to compose it. Guess it just gets to percolate a bit more.

But here's some food for thought - how would it change your opinion if your kid/friend/neighbor/classmate/take your pick that you thought had an autism spectrum disorder actually had been damaged in utereo by alcohol instead? You think anyone would tell if they had?

And add in race and economic status, if you will.

I connected the dots on this quite by accident this afternoon, and I'm still spinning. It means a LOT, in the current culture. Autism is a non-fault diagnosis compared to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, even more so after the whole vaccine issue was thoroughly and completely debunked.

I don't know any biokids with FASD - I do know a number of adopted-from-foster-care cases, though. I know a BUNCH of biokids with autism spectrum diagnoses. Looking at the types of services needed, long-term prognoses, things these kids manifest...it's pretty scary how much is nearly identical and one could pass for the other.

You know me. You need, you need. You should get, if the other guy does.

I'll be back.

Comments

[sekl.livejournal.com]

I can add to this thought with some experience in trying to get a kid diagnosed with autism or PDD. When I took kiddo to docs at age 4 to rule out autism as part of his language processing issues, UCLA bombarded me with questions as to both my drinking and drug use prior to Jakob's birth. We lived in Manhattan Beach at the time, so despite the high-end location, the assumption was that I was a bon vivant. Ironic considering how I'm just the life of the party, but there it is.

Everything in the world is suggested that you did something wrong before you get a shot at being considered for Autism or PDD or anything on that spectrum. Traumatic birth. Drug use. Alcohol use.

The trick is that with really great insurance they can put you through that and you can come back swinging. It costs but you can raise hell insist that they do more than just tell you you are dumb and stupid and probably an addict and actually LOOK at your child's growing deficits from his peers.

Who's going to fight for kids in foster homes? I can't tell you it cost me emotionally to get a diagnosis for Jake actually fit him and his circumstances. I can tell you it cost me 10 grand (and this is with excellent insurance taking 90% of the hit mind you) to provide private services until we could get my son an IEP hearing and the school district provided services. And at that point, "Oh clearly PDD NOS."

There isn't enough head smacking to go around, but the system really worked for him after that and he's in a regular class, functioning pretty well now. It's been a long road, but I can't imagine what happens to kids whose parents don't know what is out there and how your child can benefit. Most people fight the stigma, and the community seems very willing to go with fetal alcohol syndrome, etc. before anything else.