Kanjian is using his clout as a county commissioner to advocate that the same coverage be available to everyone with insurance. He wants Florida legislators to mandate that private insurance companies cover autism, a battle that's being waged in a growing number of states across the country.
When his son was diagnosed with the brain disorder, Kanjian recalled meeting a school custodian whose child also had autism. Their incomes determined the level of care each child got, he said.