Michael Savage. Google him and read all about his anti-autism rants. I am not going to dignify him with a link.

All I want to point out today is one important fact that keeps coming up in these conversations. There is apparently some perception among society that autistic children qualify for some magic free government paycheck. Some sort of disability money that is so enticing that we parent are clamoring for a diagnosis, just to cash in on it.

Let me straighten this out for all those who are confused.

Autism does not entitle your child to a free government paycheck.
You do not automatically qualify for SSI, Medicare, or anything else.
The child might qualify for SSI disability or some help, depending on the family income. You can get some really good information on how to pursue those rights, if your child qualifies, here. The qualifications are the same whether your child has autism, MS, no legs, water on the brain, or epilepsy. There is no autism fast-track.

Its not a guarantee. Its rare. Its alot of work. If you do qualify for anything, you will spend it on special needs care for your child, trust me.

I really wish certain members of society would stop insulting the parents of autistic children, saying that we parade our autistic children around as cash cows. There is no cash. If there was, we would spend it on PECS systems, vitamins, tutors, adaptive bicycles, headphones, special babysitters, classes, etc.

Fact: Pookie qualifies for nothing, except 2 years of free preschool. We never even considered that he would qualify for any money. That is not how we think. We think of Pookie. But so many people in society brought it up, accusing parents of looking for this big payout, that we looked into it.

Nothing. He qualifies for nothing. So, stop accusing us of pimping him for the money.