House Bill Would Allow Military Retirees to Name Special Needs Trusts As Beneficiaries of Survivor Benefit Plans A bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would finally allow military retirees to name special needs trusts as beneficiaries of Survivor Benefit Plans, a change that could dramatically improve the lives of military children with … Read more →

Autism Costs Soar To $137 Billion By Michelle Diament Disability Scoop March 30, 2012 Autism is costing society $137 billion annually, according to new estimates that suggest a three-fold increase in less than a decade. The figure comes from preliminary findings of a new analysis of the economic impact of autism. The results of the … Read more →

CDC: 1 In 88 Kids Have Autism By Michelle Diament Disability Scoop March 29, 2012 The number of children estimated to have autism continues to rise, with a new government report out Thursday indicating that the condition now affects 1 in 88 kids. That’s a 23 percent rise over the previous estimate of 1 in … Read more →

Disability Advocates Alarmed by Parents Who Kill By Lesley Young Disability Scoop March 27, 2012 After a number of cases in recent years of parents killing their kids with disabilities, self-advocates are working to focus attention on victims rather than the stresses their caregivers face. Members of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network say that far … Read more →

Autism Offers Clear Advantage, Study Finds By Michelle Diament Disability Scoop March 23, 2012 Some with autism have long stood out for their savant-like abilities, but new research suggests that even those without such obvious strengths have extraordinary talent as compared to typically developing individuals. People with autism are significantly better at processing large amounts … Read more →

Report Favoring Restraint, Seclusion Stirs Backlash By Michelle Diament Disability Scoop March 13, 2012 Disability advocates are on the offensive after a national group representing school administrators issued a report supporting the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The report released last week from the American Association of School Administrators argues that having the … Read more →