Candidates touch on Autism

April is National Autism Awareness Month and on April 2 (World Autism Day) several advocacy groups across the country asked the 2008 presedential candidates to respond.

The candidates for the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton both released statements to mark the first ever United Nations World Autism Awareness Day.

An Excerpt from Senator Obama's World Autism Awareness Day Statement:

“I am proud to add my voice in support of World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month, and to outline the steps that an Obama administration will take to address the problem of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on every level. Autism Spectrum Disorders have quietly become some of the most serious public health issues in the United States and the world today. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects 1 in 150 children; 1 in 94 boys, in the United States. It is estimated that tens of millions have autism world wide.

Autism not only jeopardizes the future of our children, but also has a devastating impact on all levels of government here at home and around the world. Today, autism costs our nation alone $90 billion dollars each year. In current dollars, the cost of simply caring for each person with autism will be over $3 million — a devastating burden for virtually every family who is affected by this disorder.

While the statistics are staggering, these numbers are compounded with autism’s impact on our families and communities. The divorce rate of parents of children with autism is far above the national average, as is the bankruptcy rate. Autism taxes our families in many ways - not just financially, but emotionally as well.

Many insurance companies have failed to assume their responsibilities. Individuals with autism are routinely denied insurance benefits for their treatments.

How can we allow our nation to deny children with special needs the support their health depends on? That is not the America we believe in. While some states have been successful in restoring basic insurance benefits, we as Americans have an obligation to our citizens with special needs and I intend to lead in that effort with the most comprehensive ASD policy of any candidate running for president.

As President, I will appoint a Federal ASD Coordinator, an “Autism Czar” to oversee and coordinate a nationwide effort to deal proactively with ASD. This effort will include diverse but credible research, treatment, personal care/assistance and family support and will work with existing national and state organizations and taskforces. We need to ensure that combating autism, once and for all, receives the recognition and priority it deserves at the highest level of government. This appointee will also have a mandate to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that may be delaying implementation of important measures and will ensure that all federal funds are being spent in a manner that prioritizes results. We need to build effective communication and collaboration among federal, state and local agencies. Right now, our government is just trying to keep up and, as any family who faces autism will tell you, we are not even doing that. What we know and what we have seen is that America can and must do more.

Americans with special needs require and deserve meaningful resources to succeed in early and later life. While roughly 90 percent of infants in the U.S. are currently screened for various potentially disabling or life-threatening conditions, fewer than half the states screen all infants for the full recommended panel of 29 disorders. Many of these conditions, if caught early, can be treated before they result in permanent impairments or even death. This means we have to set a national standard to provide re-screening for all two-year olds, the age at which some conditions, including autism, have already begun to appear.

Our nation and our world deserve an immediate and focused four-prong approach: research, intervention, life-long support, and an end to discrimination. As a result of the crisis, there is much debate as to the cause of autism and how to address it. What we need to do is devote ourselves to a solution built from a comprehensive plan that is research-based, inclusive, and effective. And we have to do this right now.

Those who face autism - or whose loved ones are facing it - are some of our most courageous Americans. They face daily struggles, praying that their school district has the resources and personnel to help their child, hoping that their pediatricians know how help, fearful of what their child’s future will be, and knowing full well the very limited services available to adults with special needs. We must replace these uncertainties with hope - hope that we can and will bring about a brighter day.


Excerpt from the Statement Of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton On World Autism Awareness Day:

I am pleased to join the United Nations in recognizing the inaugural World Autism Awareness Day. Today offers us the opportunity to reaffirm a commitment to addressing the need for increased treatment, services, and research into autism spectrum disorders.

In the United States and other countries, we have seen a rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with autism. Throughout my time in public service, I have met with families who have shared their experiences in dealing with autism, and trying to seek the best possible care for their loved ones with the disorder. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 150 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. In order to respond to these increases, we need to have a commensurate investment in services and programs for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. I also believe that we should increase our efforts to research autism, so that we better understand the causes and the best treatments for this condition.

We need to know what works and start investing in those efforts. I will also expand access to post-diagnosis care so that once children have been identified as autistic, they receive appropriate evidence-based treatment immediately. No child should experience a delay in receiving services that can improve his or her quality of life. But too often today, children are forced to wait for months for care. I’ll also provide funding to school districts and universities to train teachers and other health and social services professionals in how to work most effectively with autistic children, since the number of children with autism in our public schools has skyrocketed in recent years. I’ll make sure every young person has a transition plan before they leave high school. I will also ensure that both children and adults with autism have access to the services they need - including housing, transportation, employment - to live rich and full lives. In all, I will commit $500 million annually to provide services to improve the quality of life for all people living with autism.

This plan builds on my work in the Senate to help individuals and families impacted by autism. Last year, I introduced the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act, which would increase the availability of effective treatment, services and interventions for both children and adults living with autism. I was also a cosponsor of the Combating Autism Act, and have worked to secure funding for the research programs authorized by that act.

I hope that today’s commemoration will once again allow us to highlight the needs of children, adults, and families impacted by autism, and I look forward to working to continue to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders,’ said Senator Clinton.

Although we searched the internet we did not come across a statement for World Autism Awareness Day by Republican Presidential Candidate, Senator John McCain.

Senator McCain had spoken about autism on the campaign trail, “It’s indisputable that autism is on the rise among children,” Senator McCain said while campaigning recently in Texas. “The question is what’s causing it. And we go back and forth and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines.”

For more information about Autism and advocacy efforts, visit

The Autism Society of America.

Key Campaign Marches on Juneau

The 21st Annual Key Campaign has descended up Juneau this week in full force. An advocacy effort to persuade the Alaska Legislature to fund services for people with disabilities, this year's Key will kick off early this year.

"Here Comes the Sun" is the theme for this year and highlights that it's time to end the four-year rate freeze for the funding of disability services.

Campaigners will be meeting with lawmakers and going over the campaign's legislative priorities for 208, which include: a $3.5 million increase for caregiver pay and an authorization for Disability and Senior Services to begin taking 50 people off the statewide wait list every quarter in the coming year.

Photos and updates will be available here next week. Stay tuned!

Friends in good places

Sen. Johnny Ellis, longtime friend and supporter of The Arc of Anchorage, was named the new majority leader of the Alaska State Senate this month. Ellis, a Democrat from Anchorage, is the first member of his party to hold the powerful position in more than a decade.
Ellis' move to the new position was set in place when Sen. John Cowdery, an Anchorage Republican, gave up his position as chairman of the powerful Rules Committee on the first day of the legislative session.
Ellis has been an active and outspoken proponent for The Arc since he began serving in the Alaskan legislature and was an early participant of Key Campaign when it began 21 years ago. To this day, Ellis keeps a basket of keys in his Juneau office as a reminder of the event’s importance to Alaskans with disabilities and their families.

Read about it
here.

Autism screening for toddlers

In a story released yesterday on MSNBC.com, the American Academy of Pediatrics is calling for all children to be screened twice for Autism before their second birthday.

The country’s leading pediatricians group is making its strongest push yet to have all children screened for autism twice by age 2, warning of symptoms such as babies who don’t babble at 9 months and 1-year-olds who don’t point to toys.

The advice is meant to help both parents and doctors spot autism sooner. There is no cure for the disorder, but experts say that early therapy can lessen its severity.

Symptoms to watch for and the call for early screening come in two new reports. They are being released by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday at its annual meeting in San Francisco and will appear in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics and on the group’s Web site (www.aap.org).

Read the entire story
here.