Iredell physicians need to place focus on autism

I am the parent of a 6-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. My family’s story is like that of many other parents in the area, which is exactly why I hope you print it.We have yet to find a physician in the area — even those I would classify as competent — willing to take the time to listen to parents who are trying to find treatment for their kids.

At times, we are almost scolded or dismissed as overly concerned parents.

Physicians, listen up. Not every child and parent fits into a neat, labeled box.

Sometimes, even if you don’t know the answer, the concerns are valid. Just because you aren’t familiar with physical conditions that often coincide with autism doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Providers, have the courage to say you don’t know and help us find answers.

It took five years of voicing concerns, with two of those years spent misdiagnosed before our son was diagnosed with an ASD. By the time the diagnosis was made, he was too “old” for early intervention treatment programs in Iredell County.

After agonizing research and learning how to navigate the red tape, we learned how to get our son evaluated by a program offered by a local mental health agency that recently underwent changes and is no longer doing outpatient therapy for cases like my son.

It’s bad enough that there are limited to no biomedical treatments offered in Iredell County, but now, for many of us, our only affordable psychological help has been scaled back.

We homeschool our child, not because of behavioral issues, but due to physical “tics” that often made him the focus of ridicule. This means we and many others do not qualify for a lot of therapeutic services out there.

My children and yours deserve better than this in Iredell County. Biomedical treatments are out there, but many physicians do not want to deal with educating themselves about them. If one physician in Statesville showed any interest in helping parents get to some of these treatments, his or her office would be packed full of parents like me who just want a chance to be heard — a chance to help their children.

I truly believe that until some one in this area, meaning Statesville and Iredell County, is adversely affected by autism, it may not change.

I am asking those of you who have influence to look at this issue seriously. Or is it going to only matter when someone with influence and wealth is affected by autism?

Andra Williams
Statesville