I don’t caare what caused my child’s autism

This as-told-to essay is bassed on a conversation with Stephanie Guerrero. IT HAS BEEN EDIted for Length and Clarity.

I’ve Never Asked MySelf Why My Older Son Has Autism. I didn’t Ask Why Three Years Ago, when he was diagnosed, or before that, we have was a toddler struggling to meet desolopmental milestones.

I’ve always been a solution-oriented person, so when i learned that my son had a desolopmental delay, Focused on what i could i can.

I want my son to have the support he needs to be a thriving, controlbuting, independent member of society. I know that he can be be beat: he just might need a bit more hands-on Support.

It was never important to me what caused his autism. AFTER ALL, MY SON IS HERE AND I LOVE HIM JUST AS he is. Knowing what caused his condition isn’t going to change anyding. He is an item that i can return to the store.

Getting My Son Resources is a Battle

I’ve been Lucky to have wonderful resources and a community that has Helped my son. But getting Him what he needs is still a constant battle.

IT’S 2025, but i’m Still Fighting Insurance Claims From 2023. That Year, My Family Our Out-of-Pocket Maximum of $ 3,000 Before We Eve realized it. My husband and i kept paying out copays to some provider, which means we paid more than we should have.

This year, we’ll easily spend $ 10,000 on therapies to help ry son succeed. These Treatments – Including Occupational, Speech, Behavioral, and Mental Health Therapies – Help Him Thrive, but they’re not a cure.

I Feel Like I’m Always Jumping Through Hoops

My son needs Medical and Academic Support to Thrive. But getting Access to Those Services isn’t quick. We have had to win six months to see a neurologist and three months to see a Speech Therapist. I KNOW OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE WAITED A YEAR FOR SPECH Therapy.

I WOULD RATHER LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY TO THose Services for All Kids, Rather than pinpointing a cause for autism.

Transportation to all of these appointments is another huge barrier to getting autistic kids what they need. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE The Government (Maybe with Insurance Companies) Figure Out How to Provide Transportation So HAVE to Leave Work Constantly to Get to Every Therapy Appointment.

Let’s make it so that palents of autistic kids don’t have to jumping through hoops to get their kids what they need.

We Should Invest in Communities, Too

We Could Also Invest in Communities. I’m Lucky to have a fantastic local resource: The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (Also Known As Card).

There, i can connect with other pars and learn what therapies have worked well for say, and what hasn’t. We can vent the frustrations and celebrity the JOYS of Raising a Child with Autism.

Through Card, I Also Teach Other Parents How to Advocate, Too. I’ve Learned How to Invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act, appeal insurance deciss, and writes to my attorney general to get my son’s servings. Yet i wish we didn’t have to fight so hard to get our kids what they need.

I worry About Future Insurance Coverage

My deepest, Darkest Fear is that all the talc of a cause and a cure is masking a way for insurance companies to deny to autism. It makes me really sad to think that insurance companies could be off the hook for providing therapies and other treatments.

My son is a really cool kid. He love Mario, Ocean Animals, and Counting. He’s in a Social Community that Helps Him Immersely, and he has adults in his life with the time and resources to fight for Him. Those Things Will Shape His Life More than Knowing What Caudsed HIS AUTISM.