Should the Government Fund Autism Therapy?

The schools can't even teach the basics and you want them doing therapy for your autistic child? I am sure the private sector could do a better job at the therapy than a school nurse could. They (govt) need to use the money they have (squandered) more wisely. Every day I see our politicians are asking (if we are lucky) for more money to do the job they have not been able to do with the jillions of $ they have already taken from us. Less (govt) is best.

Absolutely. All you have to do is be around an autistic child for ten minutes if you doubt it. As Amanda points out, there are so many other things the government is funding that we all do or do not agree on. When you realize that funding CAN help 50% of the children involved it's a no-brainer I think.

I have an idea. With all of the money going into the prison system, two wars, oil drilling and to purchase oil, and a failed drug/immigrant war, the government should channel all of that energy and money into education, autism research and care, and health insurance. Everyone would be much healthier and happier.

Absolutely. Public schools may not always be equipped, but given the rates of autism, it seems to me that the government needs to step in and help fund therapy for kids, along with private health insurance.

Yes! Anything and everything should be done to help the children. They are the future.

We definitely need to make therapy available and affordable for parents of autistic children. The numbers of children with this disorder is growing at a rapid rate and sadly, waiting lists for therapy can take years--years that children slip further away in the grips of autism. I'm all for government-funded school therapy as insurance companies are notorious for findng ways not to provide coverage. Of course, there are many factors and public school may not be the best place for children with more severe autism--and in that case, hopefully insurance would consider covering part of the costs of therapy elsewhere.