Autism Fellowship would like to support military families affected by autism.  There is a growing understanding by the military leadership and congressional leaders that frequent moves required by military service have a distinct and severe effect on military dependants with autism.  The specific issues include:

• When moving, a lack of knowledge of the new area, especially about specialized service providers.
• After moving, the difficulty in placing a child with autism in a new school district where available programs can differ greatly from the current program.
• Suffering from gaps in services due to wait lists, IEP renegotiations, etc.
• Psychological setbacks/regressions due to relocation (new environment, change in routine, moving stress).
• Never receiving Medicaid benefits because of years-long wait lists in each new state.
• Limited access to behavior therapy such as ABA.
• Limited access to respite care.

The decision to serve our country should not come at the expense of providing for a child with autism.

Please visit the Military Families & Autism section of the Autism Fellowship Forums to learn about programs that affect you and to ask questions of other military families.