TEAM Family Shares Story During Autism Awareness Month - Part 2
Friday, April 8, 2011 at 10:45AM Check out our video on KNWA http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news/?nxd_id=229666
"No one gives you a package and says, 'Now this is where you go'," she said looking at her son jumping on the trampoline. Traci Sickels is still navigating her way around raising a child with Autism. "You're not used to that, no family is," she said. Nine-year-old Dallas requires speech and occupational therapy, in addition to powerful prescription medications. "Many families dip into retirement just to pay for it," Sickels said. "You would do anything for your child. But to what degree? Some people are going broke just to pay for it."Sickels and her family relocated to Northwest Arkansas shortly before Dallas underwent his first evaluation.
"That was $1,200. There was no way we could have paid for that," she said. "Luckily, we sold our home and then put that with our savings." Oftentimes, parents find themselves lost.
"There's a lot of families looking for services wherever they can," Sickels said. "When you meet another parent dealing with Autism, you immediately ask them what they do, where they go for treatment. There's no crash-course for this. You learn from parents who have already been down this road.
Searching for ways to pay for treatment can become a maze of money management.
"We hear that over and over again. I'm so glad you told me about this, I didn't know about this option," Children's Therapy T.E.A.M. Family Support Member Amber Spencer said. Many private insurance providers don't cover Autism claims. "Sadly, a lot of insurance companies have begun saying that they don't cover developmental disabilities or delays," said Billing Analyst Amanda Clark. "That's their way of getting around children with Autism.""I'm a public school teacher, so you know that extra money is not there. The insurance doesn't cover that," Sickels said. Traci Sickels, and mothers like her, have to jump through hoops to apply for Medicaid coverage. "I pay a monthly premium. It's not like I get anything handed to me free," she said. But there's a long waiting list. "It's a hefty packet, and it's about a four to six month wait once you get in," Spencer said. With possible federal budget cuts making Medicaid harder to come by, the costs could continue to climb."I am scared," Sickels said. "If any of that was cut, there's no way I could afford you know all the therapy."It's another worry for families looking forward. "There's a lot of struggles. It's not just medicine, it's not just therapy, it's your everyday life," Sickels said. It's a challenge Traci Sickels hopes she and Dallas can look back on as one they conquered so he could lead the healthy life every kid deserves.
Traci Sickels heads the NWA Autism Support Group to provide resources for parents who are just starting out on the journey of living with Autism or those who need a community of understanding. The group often hosts workshops to help parents apply for waiver programs and other funding opportunities. You can click here to find out more.
You can also help support Autism Awareness on May 7, 2011 through the 5k Autism Walk to help families obtain mini-grants for support. It's happening at Gracepoint Church, 1201 McCollum Road, Bentonville, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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