Autism Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
Hello and thank you for joining us today to recognize National Autism Awareness Month and to bring more attention to the prevalence and challenges of this terrible disability. I am happy to be joined here today by Dr. Steve Contompasis with the Division for Children with Special Health Needs at the Vermont Health Department; Lynn George, parent and cofounder of Autism Support Daily, a non-profit autism resource for families; and Angela MacDonald-Timpone, parent and co-chair for the Vermont Walk for Autism.
April is National Autism Awareness Month. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year - the fastest growing developmental disability in the country and one with no proven cause or cure. Currently, autism spectrum disorders affect 1 to 1.5 million Americans and one of every 166 children. These are startling statistics, and clearly the federal government has an important role to play in supporting both aggressive scientific research and in ensuring those children suffering this disability get the appropriate care and education they need.
Children affected by autism, both classic autism and less severe forms, including Asperger's Syndrome - may have speech delays, while others may not. Affected children's thinking and learning abilities can range from gifted to the severely challenged. But all need special education that is responsive to their particular needs, without which many with will not develop effective social skills and may not learn to talk or behave appropriately. With such special attention, there is great promise and an emerging track record of educational and developmental success.
Another lurking issue is the uncertainty of the effects of vaccines containing mercury as a result of the use of the preservative Thimerosal. While I understand there is continuing debate on the links between mercury and autism, and I encourage further research and debate to get to the bottom of this, until there is a definitive conclusion, I have supported and will continue to support efforts in Congress to hasten the day when there are no mercury-containing vaccines anywhere on the market. This precautionary approach, to my mind, is the only sensible thing to do on this issue.
Most importantly, I think there needs to be a major effort to increase awareness and training with respect to autism among our medical and educational communities. Of course I continue to support the full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and am a cosponsor of both HR 1107, the Full Funding for IDEA Now Act, as well as HR 363, the Keep our PACT Act. I am fully committed to Congress meeting its obligation to fund the legislation it passes and the IDEA in particular. But I am also concerned that special attention needs to be paid to training and education specifically with respect to autism.
That is why I am a cosponsor of HR 2421, the Combating Autism Act of 2005, which would require the federal government to establish a program to provide information and education on autism and its risk factors to health professionals and the general public. It would also, among other things, establish an Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate autism related activities within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
I am also a cosponsor of HR 4059, the Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act of 2005, or TEACH Act of 2005, which among other things would amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to require assisted local educational agencies to report on autism early intervention activities and personnel training. It would also carry out an expanded student loan forgiveness program for teachers of autistic children and establish a Task Force on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
I look forward to working with the leaders I am joined by today to increase awareness of autism, to ensure that our doctors and educators are adequately trained to identify and accommodate children with autism spectrum disorder, and to advance scientific research into the causes and available treatments of this debilitating disorder. Thank you.
http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4847