We visited CDC to get information about services for our autistic child. The staff were very friendly and informative about government programs, and what kind of assessments wed need. I do not remember the exact course of the discussion, but eventually it got to needing needing to get an IQ Test performed to determine intellectual disability. She mentioned that the wait lists were long, or that wed need to pay several thousand dollars out of pocket. As the discussion continued, we mentioned that we were looking into getting his Social Security Benefits, it then occurred to me that maybe could release the SSA assessments for determination. Things got a little strange here. The woman we spoke with said that SSA would not release these documents to patients or their families, and was adament that the SSA protects them because they paid for these assessments and that they were theirs. That shes never actually received SSA assessments or medical records, and so-on. This didnt set well with me, and it seemed a little strange. I did some fact-checking, and SSA will release medical records to a childs physician, who will then determine if it is appropriate to release to the parents (or anyone else). It would seem that SSA does not withhold medical records on account that they paid for them, or any other such nonsense. I am not really sure why she would have been so adament about this, Im not sure if it was a mistake or what. But it seemed a little bit fishy to me. I have no idea if that was the case, but I would definitely approach this organization with some degree of caution. Im not saying theyre not legitimate, they seem to be, I just have no idea what that was about.

CDC has helped us in becoming better parents and knowing whats best for our kid.