Autistic Spectrum Digest (Autism) Issue 13, November 2014 | Page 8

The News in Review Cleveland Teens Charged with Assault Ice Bucket Challenge Attack on Teen with Autism Settlement reached in autism therapy suit against Regence BlueShield Washington – The families of children with autism have won a class action suit against Regence BlueShield, a state health insurance company that had been refusing to cover the cost of an expensive behavioural therapy for those under their plan. Five teens were charged in Ohio for their involvement in what has been reported as a “prank” pulled on a young boy with autism Aug. 18. The teens, aged between 14-16, allegedly dumped a bucket of tobacco spit and urine on the young boy– who was led to believe that he was taking part in an ALS Ice Bucket Challenge for charity. Kelli Stapleton sentenced to 10 – 22 years Celebrities who hailed from Cleveland, Drew Carey and Jenny McCarthy strongly condemned the teens’ cruel actions and offered a reward for anyone who could help bring the perpetrators to justice. Benzie County, Michigan – We have kept up to date with the trial of Kelli Stapleton, who attempted to kill both herself and her autistic daughter Issy with carbon monoxide poisoning, and today we learned that the mother from Michigan has been sentence to a minimum of 10 years in prison with the maximum sentence of 22 years. All five of the suspects face juvenile charges of disorderly conduct, while three of them face additional charges of delinquency and assault. 8