My autistic son has been on the waitlist for one year for a mobile therapist to come to our house and work with him. We currently do not have services for him in Allegheny County.
After many phone calls, we continue to struggle to get any services, but it is not just our family. There are many special needs children out there just waiting for help. So, while the governor would like to draw teachers, nurses and police officers into Pennsylvania, where are the social workers or anybody who can help children?
Post-pandemic, we are in a mental health crisis. As a parent of an autistic child, why should I have to fight to get my son’s services? I believe services should be readily available for any child. It is disheartening to know our most vulnerable group — children — cannot get the needed services. What a failure to these children! Our country’s future is with our children.
We continue to wait as county and state officials devise a plan and a solution for our children. Maybe our country doesn’t care about our children or our country’s future.
Dana Lee
Robinson