AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Out of options, both are now desperate to find the help they need
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA) - There's a saying that "parenting is a full-time job." For one Rogers mother, it's even more than that.
She's become desperate to find care for her autistic child.
"I am desperate, I am tired and I need help. My son needs help," said Zaikia Earl, whose son is autistic.
Earl says she's running out of options.
"I am always guarded, on edge and protective at the same time," Earl said.
For 14 years, the single mother has searched for help for her son, Donovan, who is autistic.
Donovan is prone to "meltdowns" -- temper tantrums where he'll become aggressive, violent and sometimes dangerous.
"I've had to stop him from running into traffic because he has meltdowns," Earl said.
"It's almost like winding a spring when he starts getting upset, and if he doesn't find a way to release that, he is going to have a meltdown and lose it," said Dr. Digie Neaville, Donovan's pediatrician.
Doctor Neaville has been Donovan's primary care provider since he was six. She's reached out to hospitals, state departments, mental health centers and even elected officials, begging for help.
But because Donovan poses both developmental and behavioral challenges, they've often been stonewalled.
"Many mental health centers refuse to take him in because of his developmental levels. And the developmental disabilities teams did not feel that he was appropriate for their program because of his aggression," Dr. Neaville said.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services is working to eliminate these shortcomings..
"We are cognizant of and are ready and willing to say there are gaps in the system," said Marci Manley with the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
It's "Passe Model" aims to improve the health of Arkansans by linking providers to those with mental health, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
"The states resources are finite, and we recognize that there is a demand for that," Manley said. "All states, at some level, are experiencing the challenges and the struggles of dealing with the needs that are out there in the community and having enough resources to fill in those gaps for them and to find gaps and how to address those in their system."
While there are active steps being taken, even Doctor Neaville recognizes there's still a long way to go for kids like Donovan.
"Our goal for Donovan is to get him settled and stable enough to where he can come back and function in his own community," Dr. Neaville said.
"I love him so much and that's why I'm doing this for him, for myself, and for other people. He is still very much my baby, no matter what," Earl said.
I called the behavioral and mental health centers in the state that Zaikia has asked for help. Due to HIPAA laws, they couldn't tell me the exact reason for denying Donovan care.
The family tells me there's been an opening for him at the Conway Human Development Center, but not until the summer. Even so, there's still one child in front of him, so there's no guarantee Donovan will be able to even take it.
Source: Health Centers Across Arkansas Turn Away Mother and Autistic Son
Out of options, both are now desperate to find the help they need
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA) - There's a saying that "parenting is a full-time job." For one Rogers mother, it's even more than that.
She's become desperate to find care for her autistic child.
"I am desperate, I am tired and I need help. My son needs help," said Zaikia Earl, whose son is autistic.
Earl says she's running out of options.
"I am always guarded, on edge and protective at the same time," Earl said.
For 14 years, the single mother has searched for help for her son, Donovan, who is autistic.
Donovan is prone to "meltdowns" -- temper tantrums where he'll become aggressive, violent and sometimes dangerous.
"I've had to stop him from running into traffic because he has meltdowns," Earl said.
"It's almost like winding a spring when he starts getting upset, and if he doesn't find a way to release that, he is going to have a meltdown and lose it," said Dr. Digie Neaville, Donovan's pediatrician.
Doctor Neaville has been Donovan's primary care provider since he was six. She's reached out to hospitals, state departments, mental health centers and even elected officials, begging for help.
But because Donovan poses both developmental and behavioral challenges, they've often been stonewalled.
"Many mental health centers refuse to take him in because of his developmental levels. And the developmental disabilities teams did not feel that he was appropriate for their program because of his aggression," Dr. Neaville said.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services is working to eliminate these shortcomings..
"We are cognizant of and are ready and willing to say there are gaps in the system," said Marci Manley with the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
It's "Passe Model" aims to improve the health of Arkansans by linking providers to those with mental health, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
"The states resources are finite, and we recognize that there is a demand for that," Manley said. "All states, at some level, are experiencing the challenges and the struggles of dealing with the needs that are out there in the community and having enough resources to fill in those gaps for them and to find gaps and how to address those in their system."
While there are active steps being taken, even Doctor Neaville recognizes there's still a long way to go for kids like Donovan.
"Our goal for Donovan is to get him settled and stable enough to where he can come back and function in his own community," Dr. Neaville said.
"I love him so much and that's why I'm doing this for him, for myself, and for other people. He is still very much my baby, no matter what," Earl said.
I called the behavioral and mental health centers in the state that Zaikia has asked for help. Due to HIPAA laws, they couldn't tell me the exact reason for denying Donovan care.
The family tells me there's been an opening for him at the Conway Human Development Center, but not until the summer. Even so, there's still one child in front of him, so there's no guarantee Donovan will be able to even take it.
Source: Health Centers Across Arkansas Turn Away Mother and Autistic Son
