Rupp: Professionals-in-Training Should Be Allowed to Treat Autism Patients

Last week, I introduced a bill (SB 803) in the Senate to ensure that Missourians with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) continue to receive quality, exceptional care from health care professionals.

Advocating for Missourians with autism is a matter near and dear to my heart, and with autism becoming more prevalent in our country, the care of people with the disorder is a vital issue.

An important reason why I filed this legislation is to provide quality, continual care to children affected by ASDs and their families.

Currently, professionals who are studying to become behavior analysts or assistant behavior analysts work with autistic children and families (under supervision), and often develop strong relationships with these families. Then, when Missourians complete their wide-range of studies, they wait an average six to nine months to take their final examination to obtain licensure.

Under current law, while these professionals-in-training are waiting to take their examination, they are unable to care for the children they’ve worked with on a continual basis. Families often develop close bonds with their caregivers and it’s difficult to adjust to a new caregiver who enters their lives.

Under my bill, students who are waiting to take their final examination would be allowed to continue to care for children, under supervision (allowing for consumer protection). By allowing future behavior analysts to carry on caring for autistic young Missourians, children and their families would be more at ease, the caregiver would continue to expand his or her skills, and the pool of health care providers in our state would expand.

I hope you will support this bill and continue to support Missourians affected by ASDs.

Please visit www.missouriautismcoalition.com for more information about the meeting and how you can support individuals and families who know a loved one with autism.

Thank you and God Bless.