One year ago I (along with a lot of other parents) was in the state capitol in Michigan advocating almost around the clock for three days for passage of Autism Insurance Coverage for Children in the state of Michigan.  Doesn’t seem like it would be a particularly hard thing to convince someone of, does it?  You have a child with a medical diagnosis.  A child with a real neurological condition.  A child that with early treatment and intervention has a great chance to overcome many of the hurdles that their medical condition would otherwise impose on them over the course of their lifetime.  To put it more bluntly, you help these kids and you give them a more promising, productive, rewarding future.

In the midst of what seemed like the final days before Spring Break in a middle school, we (the parents, therapists, children, etc. advocating for this legislation) watched as the legislators … many in their final days as legislators … ate cake and pizza and sang songs karaoke style on the floor of the Senate (seriously).  It was truly as if they’d gotten all of their work done early and were just counting down the final hours of their tax payer funded terms before they could all go home for Christmas break (you see Virginia in Michigan our Senators and Representative collect full-time paychecks but don’t necessarily put in full-time hours or work year round).  One of the things they forgot to do though was give the kids and families in Michigan battling Autism a chance to get their children the life changing help they need.  In what amounted to politics and political gamesmanship at its best (dirtiest?) the bill was blocked and kept as far away from the floor as it could because many (even those opposing it) knew that if the bill got to the floor of the Senate there were enough votes for it to get passed.  That would have been a life changing moment for thousands of kids and families in Michigan. But alas, it was not to be.

That’s history though and the point of this post is not to idly lament history.  My point IS to ask where the champions for our kids have gone in THIS session. You see, this year – 2011 – was supposed to be different.  A ton of new members in the Senate and House meant the entire process had to start over again but THIS time we had a leg up (or maybe not) …. because THIS time we had champions in high places that cared about this legislation (do they?).  But many of us are now, on the anniversary of the crushing defeat felt last year, wondering ….. where have our Champions (or potential Champions) gone?????

Where did Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) go?  He had hearings last year.  Gave countless parents hope and encouragement as he toured around the state in 2010 heading up his Autism Insurance informational sessions.  He accepted awards and spoke at rallies talking about the need for Autism Insurance Reform. He was supposed to be a champion for Autism Insurance in the Senate. Despite the failure last year we were assured that he was a champion, we were assured the he was a fighter, we were assured he wouldn’t forget …. so where is he now as the LEADER of the Senate Republican Majority?

Where did our Champion Lt. Governor Brian Calley go?  He famously has a daughter with Autism.  He was a leading voice late in the charge for the passage of the Autism Insurance legislation last fall. He spoke out on the radio and even did a video on behalf of the legislation trying to advocate for its passage.  He took his shots from the opposition but kept charging. By his own admission his outspoken advocacy for the legislation was perhaps a bit late in the game but there is no doubt that his efforts, if ultimately unsuccessful, were important. You can see him all over the place these days as the Lt. Governor taking the Governor’s message and fight to the two chambers in Lansing and the media (the bridge to Canada, the budget, school funding, tax reform, etc.).  He had fire and passion last year for Autism Insurance Coverage for Michigan’s kids ……. but where is our Lt. Governor today?

Senator Jim Marleau – Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee – He has supported Autism and disability rights issues for years.  He sits on the board of the nonprofit “Homes for Autism”. When it was announced that he would be the Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee and that the Autism Insurance for Children bills would be assigned to his committee there was widespread relief.  With someone who understood the issue we all figured the odds of it getting locked and blocked in committee never to see the light of day on the Senate chamber floor (as happened last year) would be a concern we could shelf. A funny thing happened on the way out of the Health Policy committee though …… nothing (it’s like visions of last year all over again). Our potential Champion who could bring this legislation up in his committee and send it to the Senate floor, well, ummmm … he isn’t. Senator Marleau …… where are you?

Just to be clear I’m not disparaging any of these three Republican politicians. (I highlight Republican here because it IS the Republicans stopping this legislation just as it was last year.  As a conservative Republican it pains me to say this but the reason our kids in Michigan don’t have Autism coverage is because the Republicans … at least thus far …. have not wanted them to have it. The truth hurts but that doesn’t make it less true …. sadly.)  I have a tremendous amount of respect for them and believe that the leadership they could provide this State is much needed.

My frustration however is this ….. they’ve all elected to not be loud, vocal, aggressive advocates for our kids.  Despite their strength and influence and stature they’ve all elected to sit on their hands and not do anything.  Despite their vocal support of these kids and families and helping them at Autism related events ….. they’re not delivering.

Who knows, maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe behind the scenes these three potential Champions for our kids are working hard and trying to line up the votes. However, these Republicans are finishing up their first year in office. They’ve passed 231 new laws. Of those laws 95% of them have been laws championed and introduced by Republicans. That’s 231 new laws in less than a year.

So it’s not like they can’t get something they care about passed.

But not a whisper about Autism.

The rate of Autism and the number of births in the State of Michigan would suggest that over 1,000 additional children in the State of Michigan were diagnosed this past year. That’s over 1,000 additional families that are discovering that their insurance company WILL NOT cover their child.

They will not cover the life changing therapies.

They will not cover the interventions that literally will mean a savings of millions of dollars over the lifetime of that child.

Approximately 1,000 additional children were diagnosed with Autism this year and they won’t have coverage because our Senators and Representatives don’t think that they’re important enough to protect.

Michigan was one of the first states in the country to take up the Autism Insurance fight for our kids.  In the time that our State Senators, Representatives and Governors have done nothing, 29 other states have stepped up to protect their children.

A year ago I was in Lansing tonight working hard with other parents to try to get coverage passed that would have helped thousands of children and families across the state. We were fighting for our kids but we were also fighting so that those 1,000 children newly diagnosed this past year wouldn’t have to suffer like our children and families have had to suffer.

A year ago we watched the Senate singing karaoke on the floor of the chamber, glad handing each other while they ate pizza and cake and then snuck out of town after abandoning our kids.

This year’s Senate and House have also chosen to ignore these children.

Where did our Champions go?

Have they really forgotten about our kids that quickly?

Source: The Dome Magazine

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Regardless of your politics or personal feelings there is a beauty and honesty in this quote that can, hopefully, give us all pause today:

“The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren’t able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It’s called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.”

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Here’s Brian Calley, the State’s next Lt. Governor, making the case for Autism Insurance Reform.  As has been widely pointed out Mr. Calley doeshave  a four year old daughter with Autism.  Some folks have mistaken this as being his motivation for supporting this legislation … after all, it would help HIS daughter is an argument I’ve heard made (a LOT, including in our local newspaper the Detroit News).

Will it help his daughter? Sure it would.  Just like it will help the other 15,000+ children in the State of Michigan and their families.

What goes unreported (including in the recent Detroit News editorial) though is the fact that there’s a major flaw to the “he’s only doing this because of his kid” theory …. he supported the legislation BEFORE his daughter was diagnosed with Autism.

So why would a conservative Republican concerned about fiscal responsibility want to support something that the opponents of this legislation (i.e. – Blue Cross Blue Shield, who is sitting on multi-billion dollar surpluses and being sued by the state for price fixing) say would just “raise costs” for Michigan families?

Simply because, it wouldn’t do that at all … click the link below and hear Mr. Calley in his own words.

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Well, the elections of last week are now officially done and in the books.  Like that old saying goes “elections have consequences” but before we go marching into our new political term it’s important that we don’t forget the unfinished business that this State Senate still has on the table.  We’re in what’s commonly referred to as the “lame duck” session of the political season and the good folks in Lansing are trying to figure out what they’re going to finish off before the end of the year and, for some of them, the end of their time in office.

So what’s one thing they have to do before this term is up?

Pass Autism Insurance Reform Legislation

When this fight really started to heat up over the past year I posted exactly why this legislation matters to every citizen in this state (including the ones that are still in diapers). In simple terms it’s because, aside from being the right thing to do, it’s going to save us all a lot of money …. even if Autism doesn’t touch your life personally.

We’ve also done entire shows and interviews (here, here and here) about this topic and the long term damage that the insurance companies are doing to families and children in Michigan with their attempts to cheat young children out of the coverage that their parents are paying for and that they should be receiving.

The legislation would require insurance companies to provide insurance coverage for Autism.  It doesn’t really sound that complicated does it.  As a parent you purchase insurance to protect your child from unforseen dangers to their health. Insurance companies don’t want to cover Autism though because …. well, they want larger profits.  It’s really not that complicated.

They don’t care about the long term harm to these kids.

They don’t care about the additional cost to every tax payer in Michigan because they’re cheating these families.

They don’t care that they’re losing in courts to the parents that have the time and money to sue them because they know that most families can’t afford to sue them so it’s no big deal.

They don’t care …. well, that’s pretty much it … they don’t care.

These kids are a line item in their expense column and sooo … they’re crossing them out and saying….

“Nope, we’re not going to give them the coverage their parents are paying for.”

It’s really that simple.

This insurance legislation would help stop the insurance companies from cheating children with Autism.

This insurance legislation would make the insurance companies provide the service the parents are paying for already.

And if passed it will also save you, your children and your grandchildren thousands of dollars … each.

But don’t just take my word for it.  Listen to this clip from our soon to be Lt. Governor Brian Calley as he talks about his own child’s Autism diagnosis and the difficulties he’s had trying to get her the help she needs.  Republicans are not generally known for supporting “mandates”, especially ones that are opposed by big business (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan with $10 BILLION dollars in revenue and a $3 billion dollar SURPLUS qualifies as Big Business. They’re also currently being sued by the Department Of Justice for violating anti-trust violations including potential price fixing).

So why is Mr. Calley, one of the state’s top Republicans, supporting this legislation?  Listen to the interview and let him explain it to you himself  (note: his own daughter’s Autism diagnosis occured AFTER his vote on this legislation).

Then do me a favor and contact your Michigan State Senator (you can look them up here) and tell them that Autism Insurance needs to be put up for a vote and approved THIS TERM, THIS YEAR, THIS SESSION, THIS WEEK.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic please check out the sites and information from some of the other groups fighting hard for these kids and this legislation:

• Autism Insurance in Michigan (AIM) – Blog or Facebook
• Autism Votes
• Autism Alliance of Michigan

NOW IS THE TIME, MICHIGAN! Critical Action Needed Today on Autism Insurance Reform

* For those of  you that have already heard Mr. Calley’s personal Autism story, skip to the 4 minute 50 second point in the interview to hear him specifically address this pending legislation.

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Today in Michigan is primary election day.

Today’s one of those days when we can learn who’s serious and who’s just part of the peanut gallery barking at those on the field but unwilling to actually do something.

Look, since the time this country started fighting for it’s freedom we’ve had over 1,095,000 US soldiers die in wars for this country.

Can we really not find 10 minutes to vote?

For most of us, sadly, it won’t take much more time than that because according to projections we’re looking at only about 20% of the registered voters actually voting.

Don’t just vote though, make this into a learning experience for your children.  Part of our responsibility as citizens, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles is helping our junior family members understand the importance of history and their role in leading this country forward in a way that will build on that history.

So pickup your kids and take them with you to the polling place.  On the way explain why voting is important and why Founding Fathers George, Tom, Ben and the boys put EVERYTHING on the line to pry King George III’s fingers off of our country. Mention that number up above….

Over 1,095,00 US Soldiers have died in wars protecting our freedoms

That number doesn’t include all of the good men and women that didn’t sacrifice their lives for us but did suffer life changing physical, mental and emotional damage that they carried with them for the rest of their days.

Point out the schools, police officers, public parks, fire stations and road crews that you pass on the way and explain where the money for them comes from.

When you get to the polling place show them how you sign in and why they check your ID.

Take the time to show them the ballot and how you have to fill it out.

Show them the millage or other issues that you’re voting on and what that means (millage = tax dollars = Mom & Dad’s money) and why caring about that matters (remember those schools, cops, firemen, parks, etc. that you passed earlier?).

When my son and I went earlier they even gave him a little voting demonstration slip (practice ballot) for him to bring with me and we voted together.

Show them how you submit the completed ballot and why it’s a “secret ballot” and what that means.

Then grab an “I Voted Today” sticker and let them slap it on their shirt.

Walk out of there proud and thank them for their help.

Then … and this may be the most important part – explain to them that what they just did is something that not everyone else in the world can do.  Let them know that most of the people in this country have forgotten their responsibility to do it and forgotten all those good people that died for us so we could live in a FREE country.

It reminds me of a high school coach that once explained there were three kinds of folks in the world.  He put it in the context of moving a large load in a big wagon (the wagon and load representing our society, world, etc.).

First there were the PUSHERS who got behind the wagon and put everything they had into moving the wagon forward.  Then there were the PULLERS.  Like the PUSHERS they were responsible for moving the wagon forward but instead of pushing the wagon they were out in front pulling it forward.  They had the added responsibility of not only moving the wagon forward but also of helping steer it in the direction that they wanted it to go. Then there were the RIDERS.  These were the folks that didn’t do anything but sit and let themselves be moved forward by the efforts of the PUSHERS and PULLERS.

• PUSHERS – Work hard to move things forward.
• PULLERS – Work hard to move things forward while guiding the way.
• RIDERS – Sit and let everyone else do the work.

Today, 80% of our fellow citizens will elect to be RIDERS.

Today, 80% of our fellow citizens will delegate the work to the rest of us.

Today, 80% of our fellow citizens will leave the decision on where we go to us.

If you care about the future your child is going to inherit.

If you care about their safety.

If you care about their education.

If you care about their standard of living.

If you care about their ability to enjoy the same freedoms we have today ….

You must not be a RIDER.

You’ve got to be a member of the 20% PUSHING and PULLING to move us forward.

YOU MUST VOTE!

P.S. – If you can’t take your kids with you that doesn’t mean you can’t still teach them all of the same things. Click the link below and you can even print a sample ballot for yourself that you can give to your child for their own practice vote –

Find My Sample Ballot

(This post originally appeared in August 2010)

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Last week we had the pleasure of interviewing Lt. Governor candidate Brian Calley.  While our original plan was to have a politics heavy show (afterall, he’s a politician and this is an election), it was a story from Mr. Calley in the beginning of the interview, concerning the diagnosis of his young daughter with Autism, that for many listeners … was the most insightful part of the interview.  Please enjoy this short clip from last week’s show!

“In that moment, that time when she first gave me a kiss is something I’ll never forget as long as I’m drawing a breath…..”

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“One of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me “Superman” did not exist.  Cause even in the depths of the ghetto you just thought he was coming …. She thought I was crying because it’s like …. (he’s) not real.  I was crying because no one was coming with enough power to save us.”

- Geoffrey Canada. “Waiting for Superman”

The movie is controversial ….. very, very controversial.  Seen by some as a scathing expose on our current educational system and by others as simply a hit piece on the educational unions “Waiting For Superman” is, at the very least, a movie that is worth investing two hours of your time to see.  Since it hits on a topic near and dear to our hearts (and the hearts of anybody who really cares about this country I suppose) we wanted to make sure that not only did we see as soon as we could be that we could share it with you as quickly as possible.

Here are 10 facts from the “Waiting For Superman” movie and book that really jumped out at me:

1. NCLB – With four years left to reach the act’s goal of 100% proficiency  in Math and Reading most states hover around 20-30% proficiency
2. Among 30 developed countries the US is
   • 25th in Math
   • 21st in Science
   • When comparing our top 5% against their top 5% we’re …. last
3. High School Graduation Rates
   • African American – 51%
   • Latinos – 55%
   • Whites – 76%
   • 60% of those who do graduate will still need to take at least one remedial class in college
4. In Pennsylvania (as an example) 68% of state prison inmates are high school dropouts.  It’s costs, on average, $33,ooo per year and $132,000 per sentence to house, feed and care for that prisoner.   That’s enough to have sent that prisoner to private school for K-12th grade (avg. tuition $8,300) with $24,000 left over.
5. Since 1971 educational spending per student (adjusted for inflation) has doubled while test scores have remained flat.
6. The Teachers Unions (National Education Association & American Federation of Teachers) are the nation’s largest political contributors (exceeding NRA, Teamsters, AARP, Chambers of Commerce) with 90% of that money going to Democrats.
7. Protecting Teachers:
   • In Illinois (for example):
     • 1 in 57 Doctors loses their medical license
     • 1 in 97 Attorneys will lose their law license
     • Only 1 Teacher in 2,500 has ever lost their teaching credentials
   • In NY
     • Average teacher disciplinary hearing lasts 8 times longer that the average US criminal case at a cost of $65 million dollars per year
8. A top teacher in the top quintile will cover 150% of the required curriculum in a year.  A teacher in the bottom quintile will only cover 50% of the required curriculum.
9. If we eliminated the bottom 6-10% of underperforming teachers and replaced them with just “average” teachers we could bring the average US student up to the level of Finland, which is the top performing country in the world.
10. By the year 2020
    • 123 million jobs will be high skill/high pay occupations
    • Only 50 million Americans will be qualified to fill them

Some great resources I came across during interview prep:

• Michigan Public Schools Financial Data – Michigan Department of Education
  • See page 7 for the teacher pay summaries that we discussed during the show
• Predicting Success In Football & Teaching
  • This is a great piece by Malcolm Gladwell (Tipping Point, Outliers, Blink, What The Dog Saw) on the process we use for selecting, training and evaluating teachers.  We’ve referenced it before on the show and it’s a must read piece for all parents out there trying to figure out the challenges of education reform.
• Will Richardson – Tech Teacher
  • Here’s a teacher that truly gets the importance of changing HOW we teach in the information, tech heavy age.
• How To Fix Our Schools : A Manifesto – Washington Post
  • This is a brief “mainfesto” for educational reform  written, in part, by Joel Klein (Chancellor, NYC Dept. of Ed) and Michelle Rhee (former Chancellor, DC Public Schools)
• Rebuttal to the “How To Fix Our Schools Manifesto”
  • This rebuttal is but one (and there are MANY) of the rebuttals out there both to the type of reforms indicated in the above referenced manifesto but also in “Waiting For Superman”.  This one was written by Kevin Welner, Director of the Education Policy Center.  His rebuttal (evidently he was still a bit worked up is continued here.

“When you see a great teacher you are seeing a work of art.  You’re seeing a master and it is as, I think, as unbelievable as seeing a great athlete or seeing a great musician” – Geoffrey Canada, President & CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone

This undoubtedly will be a story and movie that we will continue to discuss in the coming weeks and months.  I hope you enjoy our interview with Karl Weber, author and editor of the book “Waiting for Superman”.  After listening to the interview and/or seeing the movie please feel free to share your comments (positive or negative) both here and on our Facebook page.

Click the picture above to purchase or find out more about the book!

Click the recorder below to hear our informative interview with Mr. Karl Weber from “Waiting For Superman” …..

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On last weekend’s radio show we discussed the movie Waiting for “Superman” and the need for education reform. Two weeks ago it was school nutrition with Chef Ann Cooper. In both interviews we discussed the need to hold politicians accountable for their promises. So with that in mind this weekend we’ll be interviewing Brian Calley from the Snyder-Calley Gubernatorial ticket in Michigan.

Join us this Sunday and ask Mr. Calley the questions YOU want answered

248-848-1310

You can’t hold the politicians accountable if you don’t know what they’re promising.  For those folks out there that don’t feel you really know what these campaigns are all about ….. here’s your chance to find out first hand.

• Call.
• Ask your question.
• Get your answer.
• Judge for yourself.
• Hold them accountable.

Don’t miss the show and this important interview this Sunday at 9:00am on 1310am WDTW.

If you can’t call in send us your question to Steve@MyGreatKid.com or hit us up via Facebook and Twitter.

* If you missed our previous interview with Rick Snyder back in August, listen to it here.

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Congratulations To Rick Snyder and Virg Bernero on their big wins tonight !!!

This fall in Michigan it’s going to be “One Tough Nerd” vs. “America’s Angriest Mayor”.

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On Sunday, August 1st we had the opportunity to interview MI Gubernatorial hopeful Rick Snyder.  We were able to hit many topics that, based on reader and listener feedback, you told us were important to you and other parents and grandparents out there including: business leadership vs political leadership, education, public private partnerships in education, merit pay for teachers, autism insurance, standardized testing and of course why he thinks his leadership is right for the state.

We hope this interview and our interview last week with Pete Hoekstra helps you in your quest to make a clear, educated decision in the Michigan primary this Tuesday.

What did you think?

To find out more about Rick’s Plans – click here
To find out more about Rick’s Educational Plans – click here

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