State Regulations on Asperger's Syndrome

There is a gaping hole in Arizona state disability regulations.  As the regulations are currently written, if a child is diagnosed with autism he will be eligible for state disability benefits.  Such benefits give the child and family access to case management services, transportation assistance, social networking, education, and family counseling services. That is, if there was enough money at the state level to provide such services.  Sadly, in today's economy, there isn't enough resources to go around so little is offered to families with an autistic child.  If the child was diagnosed with Asperger's, on the other hand, the family is not eligible in Arizona. 

It is my contention that some children with Asperger's syndrome need the same services as those with autism but at present those services are not available to them.  This may change in 2012.  The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, is about to change.  The proposal is to eliminate the separate category of Asperger's disorder and put it, and other pervasive developmental disorders, under the heading of "Autism Spectrum Disorder".  Doing this may, in the future, allow children with Asperger's syndrome to access the same services. 

 Please see my blog on the topic of that important change in this website under