DC Mother Fights Autism

Yetta Myrick and son Aidan at Autism Awareness Day at Nationals Park.

Courtesy of DC Autism Parents

Today, 1 in 110 individuals is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.

One mother in the DC area is fighting against all odds when it comes to Autism awareness. Yetta Myrick a single mother, Graduate Student, Studio Technician at C-SPAN and Founder of DC Autism Parents (DCAP).  Yetta was inspired to start DC Autism Parents, after her son Aidan was first diagnosed. At the time there was no information readily or openly available to help her son.

  I knew nothing about Early Intervention. I did not know that once your child turns three, you must obtain service through the school system. I knew nothing about FAPE, (Free and Appropriate Public Education). The list goes on."

After searching for help and finding no support services in the District, she started DC Autism Parents to give parents the information that was not available to her. DCAP began as a Yahoo! Group in December 2007 and In the fall of 2008, DC Autism Parents  was  formed as an organization. The group is primarily made up of mothers and grandmothers. DCAP provides support to families of children with autism by offering parents  a monthly support group meeting, listserv, playgroup, and buddies program.

Between juggling her responsibilities as Founder and President of DC Autism Parents, Yetta Myrick also co-produced C-SPAN Book TV's In Depth with author, animal science professor, and autism advocate Temple Grandin on November 1, 2009. Visit C-SPAN Book TV's In Depth website to view the program http://www.booktv.org/Series/ID/In-Depth.aspx.

Yetta says as a single mother the major challenge she faces is there is not enough time in the day. "No matter how much I do on a daily basis, I always feel like I should be doing more.  There are so many opportunities for teachable moments in a day.  I sometimes wish I did not need sleep to function." She says another challenge in the District is there are not enough programs for children with Autism.

  Currently families in several states affected by Autism are in support of an Autism Insurance Bill which would require private healthcare policies to provide coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Bill would cover applied behavior analysis (ABA) and other medically necessary, evidence-based treatments prescribed by an insured's treating physician or psychologist. So far DC, Virginia and Maryland currently have bills seeking autism insurance reform that has been endorsed by Autism Speaks.  Some of the states with Autism Insurance Reform laws include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,  Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

       Even though DC has an Autism Insurance Bill hanging in the balance parents like Yetta Myrick is helping one mother at a time stay ahead of the curve with DC Autism Parents; by providing support and a voice.  Yetta also believes DCAP gives women the opportunity to learn how to help their children become functional parts of society and ample opportunities are provided for women to network with one another.

    The month of April is Autism Awareness Month, DC Autism Parents will be partnering with an area yoga studio to provide families with discounted classes to de-stress.  For more information on activities throughout April go  to www.dcautismparents.org.
 

Facts and Statistics

• 1 percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder.
• Prevalence is estimated at 1 in 110 births.
• 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.
• Fastest-growing developmental disability; 1,148% growth rate.
• 10 - 17 % annual growth.
• $60 billion annual cost.
• 60% of costs are in adult services.
• Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.
• In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion.
• 1 percent of the adult population of the United Kingdom have an autism spectrum disorder.

Helpful Websites

www.dcautismparents.org

www.autism-society.org

www.autismspeaks.org

www.autismlink.com