
The District joins 33 states that have enacted autism insurance reform on July 24, 2013.
The reform forced insurance providers to cover Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ABA is known as Autistic Conversion Therapy in the Autistic Community.
The Autism Votes initiative was powered by Autism Speaks and other non-Autistic parent-founded autism organizations.
The ’autism community’ referenced in articles here is a different community than the Autistic community. The ’autism community’ prevented Autistics from participating in legislation, Autistic healthcare initiatives and more in a meaningful manner. Instead, Autistics are used as a prop or token in these initiatives.
Autism Insurance Reform that included ABA was being protested by Autistics as it was being hailed by non-Autistics in the ’autism community.’ These non-Autistic parent-founded organizations and people didn’t listen to Autistics then, and they aren’t listening now.
When this legislation was implemented, Autistics were silenced in the national conversation, and our civil, human and disabled rights circumvented or denied.
Today, in every state, Autistics and our real allies are working hard to introduce legislation to get ABA banned.
We will be heard.
District of Columbia Legislative History
District of Columbia Signs On to Autism Insurance Reform (July 24, 2013)
District of Columbia Moves on Autism Benefits (March 25, 2013)
Autism Speaks Commends Sen. Menendez for Insisting Autism Therapies Get Covered Under New Federal Health Care Law (Feb. 21, 2012)
Autism Politics
The District of Columbia enacted autism insurance reform on July 24, 2013.
Legislation: Health Insurance Coverage for Children with Autism Act of 2009
People: Tommy Wells, Muriel Bowser, Stuart Spielman
Related
District of Columbia | The Latest …
The Autism Community Is Not The Autistic Community
