Parents and professionals working with children and adults on the autism spectrum are looking for a mandate requiring insurance companies to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders.  With recent news of success in Arizona, Arizona Autism Insurance Bill Passes First Hurdle, the grassroots effort in Florida may find much-needed media recognition for their efforts.

Laura O’Sullivan has recently opened an autism treatment center, Children’s Autism Treatment Specialists, where she provides clients with ABA therapy.  Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an industry-standard therapy to help treat symptoms associated with the autism spectrum.  However, the services are pricey and currently ony individuals with adequate private income or those on Medicaid are able to receive these highly-studied interventions.  According to an article in the News-Press’ online edition:

Most insurance companies, according to O’Sullivan and autism advocacy groups, won’t cover therapies related to autism, a developmental delay that, by one estimate, strikes one in 150 children.

Source:  The News-Press