EBD Blog

Under the headline “In Switzerland, An Easier Path For The Disabled” on US National Public Radio, Julie Rovner presented a story about international differences in care for individuals with Autism. Ms. Rovner contrasts the experiences of Ellen Wallace, Nick Bates, and their 16-year-old daughter, Tara, with the experiences of Nancy Legendre, Walter Herlihy, and their two daughters, 19-year-old Julia and 17-year-old Lily. Tara, Julia, and Lily all have Autism.

Part of Ms. Rovner’s story is that the children live in different countries—Tara lives near Lausanne (CH), and Julia and Lily live in Gloucester (MA, US)—and, therefore, receive different health care. This feature of their situations affects their options for the girls’ futures.

The parents of Tara, Julia, and Lily are facing the the issues that the parents of many teens with disabilities face: How to provide care for their children during the children’s adulthood. Although it is difficult to generalize from the experiences of these two families except at the very abstract levels, Ms. Rovner’s treatment of the issue is nuanced and informative. Link to the Web-based version of the story.

The US Congress will hold a briefing on the transition to adulthood for youth with serious emotional illness. This is an excellent opportunity for people in the US who are concerned about children and youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and their families to reinforce public policies that are aimed at bringing some much-needed services to individuals with EBD who are making the transition for adolescence to adulthood.

Here’s an announcement from the Day Al-Mohamed, of the Public Interest Government Relations Office at the American Psychological Association:
Continue reading ‘Hearing on transition for youth’