The new CDC statistics raise significant concerns about access to care, because autism is a lifelong disorder and the need for services only begins at diagnosis. According to Robert Ring of Autism Speaks, "we need a plan to respond to these numbers, a national strategy for autism, and leadership has to come from Washington, because every congressional district is affected."

Federal and state government leaders do see the need for new programs to address the public health crisis of ASD, and have responded with urgency. Below are some examples of recent federal and state programs to help those with ASD and developmental disabilities:

According to the CDC report, one thing that hasn't changed over the years is that too many children are still being diagnosed later than is optimal. The average age of diagnosis is still over age 4, even though autism can be diagnosed by age 2. The earlier a child is diagnosed with autism, the better their chances of overcoming symptoms associated with ASD.  The CDC introduced, "Learn the Signs. Act Early," to promote developmental and behavioral screening and early intervention. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) followed suit with the "Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive" campaign program to help families look for and celebrate milestones; promote universal screenings; identify delays as early as possible; and improve the support available to help children succeed in school and thrive alongside their peers.

Special Needs Planning

Understandably, for many families dealing with the day-to-day struggles of caring for a child with special needs, the last thing on their minds is planning for the future.  However, it is of course vitally important for parents to take the right steps to ensure their child will be financially secure and cared for in the event of death or disability of the parent, including:

• Hiring an attorney who is experienced in creating special needs trusts, such as myself;
• Clearly spelling out your wishes for the disbursement of trust funds within the trust document;
• Finding someone you can trust that has your child's best interests at heart to serve as trustee and/or
• Hiring an institutional trustee that has a reputation for utilizing social workers and case managers to monitor the welfare of beneficiaries and determine how trust funds should be spent.

Special Needs Trust

A special needs trust is an essential tool to protect a disabled individual's financial future. Also known as Supplemental Needs Trusts, this type of trust preserves legal eligibility for federal and state benefits by keeping assets out of the disabled person's name while still allowing those assets to be used to benefit the person with special needs. Read more here.

When it comes to special needs planning, the Fairfax and Fredericksburg Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. can guide you through this process. If you have a loved one with special needs, call 703-691-1888 in Fairfax or 540-479-1435 in Fredericksburg to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation.