NYDailyNews.com - Fashion Mogul, Tommy Hilfiger, teamed up with Autism Speaks in a PSA last year comparing the odds of having a child on the spectum to the odds of succeeding in the fashion industry. In this link from NYDailyNews.com, he also addresses his stepson's autism and the startling lack of research and focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United States.

Talk of changes to the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-V criterion for diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders has a lot of people fired up recently. In this clip from CNN, Nancy Grace feels making the APA's proposed changes, "...will limit special education and services to children in need." Nancy goes on to question the role of future government funding in these proposed changes and how American children will be affected. She boldly states, "This is wrong!" We know that many of you - the families and professionals who live and/or work with children and young adults currently classified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder - must have an opinion...how do YOU feel about the proposed changes?

Pensnsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) recently signed a bill that will go into effect in July 2009. The bill will require private health insurance companies to provide diagnosis and treatment coverage for up to $36,000 a year for residents under age 21. If exceeding the $36,000 gap is needed, patients are able to apply for Medicaid reimbursements to cover the extra cost.