April is Autism Awareness Month all over the world. Currently, U.S. congress is looking at budget cuts across the board. This could greatly impact the services individuals with disabilities including Autism are able to receive.
The Autism Society works closely with the government, and needs the public's help in petitioning congressmen to look at areas of excessive, duplicative and administrative costs. For example,
"..a person receiving Social Security Community Supported programs in one state who then moves to another has to undergo almost a complete re-application process for receiving such services in his or her new state of residency. That requires additional costs for administration that can be better used for services."
They advocate for program change from the 30 year old concepts the systems were built upon to encouraging self-advocacy, self-sufficiency, and independence.
The government has answered this call by providing a Ticket to Work program. This program provides most people receiving Social Security benefits more choices for receiving employment services.
This program has two major pitfalls, however.
If the beneficiary works and is able to make enough money to exit the Social Security system, they also may lose their Medicaid or Medicare insurance. If they cannot get their medications, treatments, and services, they cannot work. Exiting the program at this point means they have to re-apply for the SSI benefits they had, and even with an expedited process, they are left waiting for months.
Also, the program expects individuals to make progress toward a vocational (job) goal. Social Security Disability is for persons who are unable to do any substantial gainful activity. 'Progress' needs to be better defined. Expecting complete autonomy from a person who takes months to memorize a routine on a job would be outrageous. And what if the job ends?
This system requires endless paperwork, waitlists, and countless hoops to jump through. Getting a Ticket is tied to receiving SSDI benefits, however, choosing the right Employment Network is tricky. If the individual wants to shop around, find the right fit, they have to end one Ticket and begin a new one.
The Autism Society has its work cut out for them as they tackle ways to remove such administrative repetition!
Comments