West Virginia Legislation to Establish Trust Funds
Published July 03, 2009 @ 02:20PM PT
Yesterday in West Virginia, Governor Joe Manchin signed into law new legislation that is designed to encourage the creation of trust funds for the future support of children on the autism spectrum. As reported in Metro News, under the new legislation, families with autistic children will be given a tax credit of up to $2,000 a year for contributions made to trust funds which are to be used when the children become adults; this new legislation is the "first of its kind in the country." Says Barbara Becker-Cottrill, Executive Director of the Autism Training Center which is located at Marshall University in Huntington:
"When you have a child with autism, you've got, really, constant worry about what's going to happen to your child when they become an adult......It's 24/7 concern and, then, the true worry is what will happen to them if you're not there to care for them and love them?"
....
"This bill will provide, not just the tax credit for families in the here and now, but I really think it's going to give our families a sense of security, a sense that the future is a little brighter for their child when they become adults."
That's the kind of forward-thinking legislation one hopes to see more of, for the times when children become adults, when everything isn't shiny anymore.
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Comments (3)
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Author
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Kristina is a Classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey, a blogger (formerly at AutismVox), a translator (of Virgil), and an advocate every day for her son, Charlie.
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I think this is the kind of legislation that is needed in all 50 states, and hopefully it is one that can "cross the aisle". I'd like to see more families banding together to create micro-enterprises that can employ their adult children, that can house their adult children, that can raise capital to purchase services that their transitioning children need, rather than waiting on slow-moving, cash-strapped governments to react. We've seen that Autism organizations like Autism Speaks can raise considerable amounts of money in the name of Autism, why shouldn't families and those on the Spectrum cut out the "middlemen" that isn't helping them, band together and do it themselves. Become their own service providers... Carpe diem and all that...
-Cinder McDonald
www.azassist.wetpaint.com
Posted by Cinder McDonald on 07/05/2009 @ 10:58PM PT
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I'm a mother with an Autistic kid. Though Cinder has some points, just understand something. A lot of us who are parents are of the Middle Class or lower and those of us below poverty can't really do much for ourselves financially. With so many people who are so selfish, it's hard to find someone that would give up a $1 bill for a communal swingset for a public playground for their local grounds, let alone get people to give up more money and time to take care of their kids. It is extremely taxing to attempt to deal with an autistic child. I am currently having difficulty with my son's father who wishes to pull him out of school and homeschool him. And this is the WORST thing you can do with an ASD child. Having to attempt to teach a normal child is hard enough, but add autism to that, and you got a larger issue. I hope there are more programs funded independently to assist families in teaching and training their kids with autism (as well as their "normal" parents), but until then, many of us who are not able to do much for ourselves but hope and wait and sign up for every program recommended to us can only do just those things: hope and wait. Honestly, I'm getting tired of waiting.
On another note, if anyone else is having trouble knowing who to talk to, go to the school and talk to the counsellors. Some of them will point you in the right direction. Otherwise, search around for someone in NAMI or some other local autism chapter and they can help somewhat. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Posted by Rebecca Alderman on 09/21/2009 @ 08:05PM PT
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I'm a mom living on Social Security, so I completely understand how hard it is to make ends meet, especially when you have a child with Autism. If there were Tax Credits for Autism, then parents could rally friends, family, coworkers, neighbors to contribute towards a savings account for their child's future and those $5 and $20 gifts would add up over time.
There is a surprising amount of funding out there for small business - it is possible to start up for under $1000. My thinking is if a group of families could come together, pool their resources and time, it could be done.
I'm tired of waiting also, and I simply don't trust the government or other entities to come up with the best program for my child's future. I want the power to create what she needs. I believe that if one is resourceful enough, willing to work hard and willing to collaborate with others, lack of financial resources doesn't have to be a barrier to that goal.
Posted by Cinder McDonald on 09/22/2009 @ 09:14AM PT
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