HARTFORD, Conn. — April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority reminded state residents on Tuesday that people living with autism and their caregivers may be eligible for paid leave benefits when they seek care for their health condition.
Autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a condition related to brain development that affects how a person perceives and socializes with others, creating problems in social interaction and communication, according to a release from Connecticut Paid Leave. ASD also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior.
The release from Connecticut Paid Leave said the term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to a variety of symptoms and severity, adding that there is no cure for ASD, but intensive, early treatment can have a positive impact, especially in the lives of children.
Connecticut Paid Leave provides covered workers with income replacement benefits when they are away from work due to qualifying family or health reasons, if they meet specific eligibility requirements, according to its website.
Erin Choquette, CEO of Connecticut Paid Leave, said that the Federal Centers for Disease Control reports that one in every 36 children in the United States is impacted by autism. She said that each individual living with autism has specific needs and challenges because ASD can cover a wide range of conditions.
“Connecticut Paid Leave is a great program because it provides options in how benefits can be used – in a block of time or intermittently,” Choquette said. “In that way, it can provide peace of mind with income replacement while away from work while also providing flexibility for each person’s individual situation.”
ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups and is four times more common in boys than girls, Connecticut Paid Leave said, noting that the CDC reports that ASD has been more prevalent in recent years, as its clinical definition changes to include more people than previous definitions. Better efforts to diagnose ASD also helped identify more people on the spectrum.
Caregiver leave allows a parent or guardian of a child with ASD to take their child to doctor appointments, treatments and therapies such as physical, speech, occupational or mental health without losing income.
Dr. Kristine Schlichting, director and founder of the Hopewell Health Solutions, said Connecticut is ranked ninth in the top states with the highest rates of autism. She said parental involvement in their child’s care is critical and that paid leave makes it possible for parents or guardians to attend doctor or therapy appointments without worrying about making ends meet.
Workers must create an account with CT.gov to apply for Connecticut Paid Leave benefits online. The applicant will be provided with a single identity, which will take about 10 minutes. The applicant can submit their claim online; claims may also be filed by phone by calling 877-499-8606. Hours of operation for live representatives are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
---
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.
