How About Both?

This article, sent to me by the senior administrator in Max's school, begins with the provacative title,

Respite Care May Be More Beneficial Than Autism Therapy

The authors of the study seem puzzled by

Their Results:

Each $1000 increase in spending on respite care during the preceding 60 days resulted in an 8% decrease in the odds of hospitalization in adjusted analysis. Use of therapeutic services was not associated with reduced risk of hospitalization.
So

They Concluded:

that respite care should be made universally available through Medicaid.

Do i hear loud cheers from parents?

But, they also wondered, perhaps therapy is not effective after all, since the presence of therapies had no measurable effect on their hospitalization result.

 Reading the Comments

So many controversial posts that i see on the internet quickly degenerate into slugfests.  This one, however, while generating passionate responses, has not become insulting and derogatory.  The comments (at least as of this writing!) are thoughtful, and enlightening, well worth reading .  

How about therapy and  respite together, especially in families where one adult is in charge 24/7?  

When we were expecting, one constant thread of advice was to take time for mommy, take time for mommy and daddy as a couple.  But babies grow, while kids with autism continue to need intensely.