It's a very exciting time as we look for Medicaid to finally start the applied behavior analysis (ABA) benefit for children, adolescents and young adults. It's also an exciting time to see more adults getting access to behavior-analytic services through Focused ABA Intervention, which is a narrowly focused treatment prescribed between 2 and 20 hours per week. Understanding autism is a lifelong condition, access to behavioral treatment services will ebb and flow during an individual’s lifespan, and needs to be available and accessible, when needed. We know that behavioral treatment needs just don't stop when a child turns 21 or 22. So, let's just sit down and have a conversation about what we see happening today and where we need things to go into the future.  

Marla Root is the Founder of the Illinois Autism Insurance Coalition. With experiences as a parent, administrator, and advocate, Marla supports families, providers, state agencies and health care systems in building service capacity and ensuring access to prescribed treatments such as mental health, behavior analytic treatments, and speech and occupational therapies.  Marla was awarded the 2010 Advocate of the Year by The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities and the 2018 Implementation Award from Autism Speaks. Marla is the proud parent of Eli, age 24, with severe ASD/ID.