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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014
PAGE 3
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HEALTH
Bill to expand Kansas autism insurance
KATE MILLER
KATE MILLER news@kansan.com
House Bill 2744 was signed by Brownback at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus. The bill mandates that state-funded insurance agencies provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in any covered child under the age of 12. This coverage includes 25 hours a week of applied behavioral analysis treatment, as well as speech and occupational therapy.
University alumna Elizabeth Boresow was present at the signing. As an advocate for increased trauma coverage and research, she was thrilled to witness the signing of the bill.
"A lot of people have been working very hard on this for probably about six, seven years now," she said. "We were able to see a lot of the people who came back here to Overland Park. It happened; it's something we've been trying to stress the importance of for many years and the point where we switched about talking about it to actually seeing it happen was really neat."
gm. happen was really neat."
Boresow, who graduated last May with a degree in music therapy, has ASD. While attending the University, she was active in autism education and awareness as an accessibility ambassador at the Office for Institutional Opportunity and Access.
Julie Loring was among those that Boresow worked with. Loring, the achievement and access advisor for the University, initiated the Spectrum Program for the School of Education. This program is a support group for students with ASD.
"It's based on the social group work model of development of social skills," Loring explained. "We don't do social skills training. We help students to learn by experiencing in a social setting, a small group, what other students have done or are interested in. Students have said that it's the first place where they can come into a room and say, 'I don't have to explain myself.'"
The Spectrum Program is led by doctoral student Katie Sharp. In the program, she mostly helps students cope with the transition from high school to college.
"What surprised me most about 'working with these students is that there is no one stereotypical picture of someone on the spectrum," she said. "Everyone has their own
unique strengths and differences and levels of impairment as well. It's been really rewarding; I've really grown fond of everyone that I work with."
Currently, 25 to 30 students are registered with the Academic Achievement and Access Center, according to Loring. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 68 children today has been identified with ASD, which means that the number of students with the disorder on campus is likely far larger.
"A lot of people have been working very hard on this for probably about six, seven years now."
ELIZABETH BORESOW University alumna
"Consistently, we've increased the number of students on the spectrum who are registered with this office," Loring said. "There are students that would rather not be bothered with this office or they don't want to be affiliated with having a disability when they are enormously gifted."
Loring explained that most of the difficulties that students with autism face entering a university are similar to those
every freshman faces — the enormity of the school, figuring out housing and dining and getting to class.
"For any undergrad, disability or not, it can be an overwhelming experience," Loring said. "[Students with autism] want the college experience just like any college student, but their college experience is as unique as every other student's unique experience of college. Their goals and dreams are the same, just different."
As a student with autism, Boresow faced her own unique difficulties, although not incredibly severe.
"When I started at KU, it was definitely tough. I had to seek out accommodations," she said. "My accommodations aren't too difficult, so generally speaking I didn't have any problems with dorm rooms and classes, but I know it was difficult for
other students who required more complicated things, such as lower desk or chair height."
Boresow said IOA played a large role in improving the opportunities for all those with disabilities on campus, not just those with autism.
"Partway through [my time at KU] the administration created the IOA, and things started to change," she said. "Accessibility became not just something you had to do, the bare minimum when someone
requested it — they're really trying now and they're doing a good job."
However, Boresow believes that more changes will need to be made in the future. As a music therapist who works with older people with autism, the bill's age limit on insurance is something she hopes will be lifted.
"I recognize that in order for [the bill] to be passed there had to be sacrifices," she explained. "As a professional, I work with a lot of people who are older than twelve and I think that there is much potential for people to continue learning and benefiting after age twelve. Besides 12- to 18-year-olds, you have a whole population of people who are adults and still need help."
In regards to the University, Loring advised more education and awareness across campus for ASD.
"I think all people need to be more sensitive about differences, having some degree of open-mindedness," she said. "I know college students are here to learn more and I would encourage them to learn more about differences, different populations and to expand their thinking about disability from the obvious blind, deaf, and wheelchair user to understanding more about invisible disabilities."
Edited by Austin Fisher
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
A man walks past the remains of homes damaged from a fire caused by an explosion in a mostly residential area in San Bruno, Calif., in this Sept. 13, 2010, photo.
PG&E pleads not guilty in fatal pipeline blast
"We want all of our customers to know that we're working hard to build the safest and most reliable gas system in America," the company's statement said. "The legal process will ensure that all of the facts related to this tragic event are fully reviewed."
Prosecutors allege that PG&E knowingly relied on erroneous and incomplete information when assessing the safety of the pipeline that eventually ruptured and sparked a fireball that destroyed 38 homes, killed eight people and injured dozens of others. Nearly four years later, the neighborhood is still recovering.
U. S. prosecutors previously investigated Olympic Pipe Line Co. in Washington state after an explosion in 1999 killed three people in a public park in Bellingham.
That investigation ultimately resulted in prison or probation terms for three company officials and a settlement requiring $112 million in penalties and safety improvements.
It is rare but not unprecedented for a pipeline company to be charged with criminal safety laws.
San Bruno city officials hailed the ruling as a positive step and said they believed
No individual PG&E employees have been charged criminally. Prosecutors could file superseding indictments naming individuals if the investigation warrants.
One hundred and four years ago, KU began offering electric trolley car service on and off campus. It cost five cents to ride, and was a part of public campus transportation for 23 years.
U. S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero noted prosecutors' request to increase the maximum fine PG&E could face to more than $6 million, if the court the company somehow benefited financially or saved money as a result of criminal misconduct.
CHECK OUT KANSAN.COM
As survivors of the blast looked on, attorneys for California's largest utility entered the plea in federal court in San Francisco to 12 felony violations of federal pipeline safety laws.
SAN FRANCISCO --- Pacific Gas & Electric Co. pleaded not guilty Monday to a dozen felony charges stemming from alleged safety violations in a deadly 2010 natural gas pipeline explosion that leveled a suburban neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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PG&E said in a statement the company is holding itself accountable and does not believe any employee intentionally violated federal regulations.
"We look forward to PG&E being fined the maximum amount allowed by law to send a message not only to that corporation but to the industry," San Bruno City Manager Connie Jackson said.
Gray-Little said that the administration should have time to come up with a plan to address the parking issues that the construction has caused. She also said that she looks forward to the completion of the projects because of the improvements the renovations will have on campus.
["It'll be] better in appearance, better in functionality, and I think in terms of access and safety," Gray-Little said.
Edited by Nick Chadbourne
company officials should be charged as well.
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