Please read the following message from Nebraska Appleseed below. If you or someone you know fits into one of these categories, please contact Nebraska Appleseed to offer your story. You can contact Nebraska Appleseed at (402)-438-8853 or 800-845-3746.  This is relating to a denial from Medicaid / Megellan and not related to a denial from private healthcare providers.

On May 18, 2012, Nebraska Appleseed and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) filed a class action lawsuit against Vivianne Chaumont and Kerry Winterer, in their official capacities as officers of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The lawsuit challenges Nebraska Medicaid policies that deny coverage for certain mental and behavioral health treatments for children with particular diagnoses and conditions, including developmental disabilities and autism.  The lawsuit, if successful, would effectively strike down Nebraska’s Medicaid policies as in violation of federal law and would ensure that Medicaid eligible children would receive necessary early behavioral health interventions as recommended by their providers.

Appleseed would like to speak with parents/caregivers of children who may have been affected by these policies as well as attorneys and providers who have worked with children in this situation. Read the rest of this entry »

The Autism Center of Nebraska is selling calendars and cards made by artists participating in their vocational training program.  Proceeds from the sales go directly to the artists.

Download a flyer and order form HERE.

Autism – it’s a developmental disorder that has become increasingly prevalent, affecting 1 out of 110 American children. Despite years of study, little is known about its cause and access to treatment varies. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of American families hungry for answers struggle to care for the unique needs of children with the disorder. Among them, Robert MacNeil, co-founder of the PBS NewsHour and grandfather of Nick, a 6-year old boy with autism.

“I’ve been a reporter on and off for 50 years, but I’ve never brought my family into a story … until Nick,” MacNeil said, “because he moves me deeply.”

MacNeil and producer Caren Zucker tell the story of Autism Today in a 6-part broadcast series beginning Monday, April 18, 2011 and a robust online component where viewers can join the conversation. Ms. Zucker has produced many stories on autism and is the mother of a 16-year old son with autism.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Nebraska ASD Network is an amazing resource for families and professionals in our state.  If you haven’t already met your regional coordinator, do it now!  Also be sure and check out their statewide web site as well as their regional pages for training opportunties near you!  www.unl.edu/asdnetwork

HERE is the SE Region’s January Newsletter.  This is a great resource to check out.  Print them off.  Take them to school.  Teachers…put them in the teachers lounge.

The Nebraska ASD Network is an amazing resource for families and professionals in our state.  If you haven’t already met your regional coordinator, do it now!   Also be sure and check out their statewide website as well as their regional pages for training opportunities near you!    www.unl.edu/asdnetwork

Today we are thrilled to share with you their SE Region’s new Newsletter!   This is written by Melissa Trautman and it is fantastic!  Check them out!  Print them off!  Take them to your school!  Teachers…put them in the teachers lounge! 

December Edition

January Edition

February Edition

March Edition

Check out Omaha’s Family Spectrum Magazine in March for two very special Young Heroes. Every month this Omaha parenting magazine spotlights some very special young people in the community and in March it will spotlight the autism community and specifically JP and Trey Neff!

Family Spectrum also hosts a daily radio show and hosted a discussion about autism with JP and Trey’s mom, Shawn Neff.   Shawn is a former Autism Society Board member and the current leader of the Omaha Autism Society Support Group.  If you’d like to listen to the interview it can be found here.  (February 2nd archive)

For great community connections and parenting information be sure and check out the Family Spectrum Magazine.  The magazine comes home monthly with your school age children and is also available online. www.familyspectrum.com  This was a great autism awareness piece as Family Spectrum helps us bring an autism perspective to their readers and listeners!  Thank you to Family Spectrum Magazine!

Check out autismdigest.com for an amazing story by Nebraska’s very own…Wendy Hamilton!   This is an amazing story and truly goes to show that there are MANY different autism experiences.  Congrats Wendy on a beautiful and very insightful article!

Click here to visit the article at the Autism Asperger’s Digest Magazine!

Rethink Autism (a web-based autism treatment platform) has a terrific modeling video on how to help your child understand and enjoy Halloween. Click HERE to watch the video and get a free one week trial of Rethink Autism.

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, ASA has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

ASA has a great article to give you ideas how YOU can make a difference this April.

The media will be buzzing about autism this month.  We share MANY articles through our ASN Online listserv so keep an eye there to stay linked to the hot discussions during this Autism Awareness month!

You can join our online group here.