We can all imagine the busy life of working parents with 4 teenagers. Now imagine two twin boys (14) are autistic and your oldest son (18) died unexpected. How do you carry on and get from one day to the next? Now imagine a health care provider/insurance making decisions for your child and leaving you no way to voice your opinions and desires for your own family.

If Stephen Dillon, a 14 year old severely autistic boy was discharge home it would present unimaginable danger to him and the Dillon family who are already caring for his autistic twin and a 16 year old daughter in the home as well as mourning the loss of their 18 year old son.

The Dillon family is in crisis and in need of help quickly. Please read the below situation, sign the petition and share with all your friends, time is of the essence. It would also be very helpful to e-mail and/or call the contact at the Office of Behavioral Health with your support for the Dillon family.
Shannon Thomas 610-713-2365 (coordinator of mental health services)
ThomasSF@co.delaware.pa.us

    Let me tell you about Stephen Dillon's plight and then give you the complicated story of the Dillon family. Since age 6 Stephen has lived in a residential facility due to his severe autism and aggressive behaviors that place him and others around him in danger. As you can imagine this was an extremely difficult decision for the family to make. At age 6 Stephen  needed assistance with every aspect of his day, he could not talk or understand directions and often had aggressive and dangerous behaviors. The family was assigned a helper (TSS) however no TSS lasted more than 2 days due to Stephens behaviors until no TSS would return to the Dillon home. Stephen removed himself from his car seat on the way home from one of his many hospitalizations, opened the car door and got out of the car-this was on the PA turnpike! That was the final act that led the family to the decision of residential living, the only way to ensure Stephens safety.
    Currently Stephen resides at Melmark in Pennsylvania. He is 14 years old, 5'7" and still doesn't speak, he continues to need help with every aspect of his care. Stephen has severe autism, bipolar disorder, ADHD, moderate MR (cant complete an IQ test), impulse control disorder and PIKA. Stephen continues to have dangerous and aggressive behaviors so severe that Melmark has assigned  staff member to him to be with in arms length at all times. Keep in mind his living environment is minimal with items nailed down and padded, in his bedroom there is only a bed and dresser-no curtains or pictures as they may pose a danger to him. Even the toys are not left in his room, this is a minimal and sterile environment for safety purposes. His behaviors range from eating soap, knocking hand sanitizers off the wall to biting staff so many times that they must wear arm guards at times to provide care to Stephen. The family has made it clear since Stephens admission to Melmark that they can not safely take care of the twins in the home and Melmark has disregarded the families wishes and input and has now decided Stephen will be discharged home on April 26th 2012. Melmark  sites that he has reached his maximum gains from residential treatment and doesn't meet medical necessity outlined by Megellan (insurance company) as the reason for discharge. Stephens pediatrician as well as Joshua's (autistic twin) psychologist both have opposed this discharge making note that it "would lead to the disintegration of the family unit as a whole and recommend Stephen stay in residential treatment for his safety". The Dillon's reached out to Megellan, Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Intellectual Disabilities and Children and Youth Services-all of these agencies have referred them back to Melmark and in circles to one agency or another. No agency has given them an avenue to appeal Melmarks decision for an unsafe discharge home. The Dillon's went to other residential facilities who have adamantly refused to accept Stephen due to his safety risk but Melmark expects the family to care for him at home, ABSURD!
    To add sadness to the family situation they suddenly lost their 18 year old son Christopher less than 2 years ago and are dealing with unimaginable grief. Joshua (Stephens twin) lives at home and although he can communicate, he also needs help with all aspects of his daily life, has challenging and aggressive behaviors and is diagnosed with Autism, mental retardation with 57 IQ, ADHD and OCD with anxiety. Samantha is 16, attends Ridley High School and has handled her life with grace and a smile. Remarkably and against all odds the family is intact and under one roof. Please help them continue to keep all of their children safe and keep the family together. Do not allow Melmark to force a family into a situation they absolutely  can not handle and place their children in harms way.