6 Autism Bills to go to NJ State Assembly
In the wake of the CDC’s announcement last Thursday that the prevalence rate for autism in children in New Jersey is 1 in 94, six measures that “would propel New Jersey to the forefront of the autism crisis by adding millions of dollars for research and a slew of services lasting a lifetime ” are to be introduced in New Jersey’s State Assembly as early as next week. As reported in today’s Bergen Record, Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, D-Camden, “spearheaded” work on the bills back in the early fall of 2006. The legislation includes:
- Add $4 million annually to the research and clinical funding grants distributed in-state by the Governor’s Council on Autism. The council has already awarded about $10 million.
- Establish a panel on autistic adults, including those who have the disorder and representatives from state government.
- Require pediatricians to screen for autism and compel health officials to maintain a statewide registry of cases.
- Make autism awareness a requirement for teacher certification and train emergency workers to recognize the disorder.
The Bergen Record estimates that about 14,000 persons aged 3-21 in New Jersey have autism. Funding for the proposals would primarily come from additions to the state budget, in addition to federal grants.
Whether or not you think that there is an epidemic of autism specifically in New Jersey, in general throughout the US, or that there is no epidemic of autism, an increase in legislation and funding for teaching all New Jersey teachers about autism and for providing for the needs of autistic adults (among other provisions) signals that there is an “epidemic of attention on autism” that I hope will not be a temporary phenomenon.
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POSTED IN: Adulthood, Education, Epidemic, Legislation
7 opinions for 6 Autism Bills to go to NJ State Assembly
Mike
Feb 13, 2007 at 4:44 pm
“the prevalence rate for autism in children in New Jersey is 1 in 194″
Should that be 1 in 101 or something closer to that?
Club 166
Feb 13, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Let us hope that this “epidemic of attention to autism” remains positive, and we don’t have a backlash of people decrying the “wasting” of money on the disabled.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Feb 13, 2007 at 6:17 pm
My error, thanks Mike!
It’s all $$$ wisely spent—hope others can understand this.
Kassiane
Feb 13, 2007 at 7:40 pm
I don’t like the crisis language, but I do like where theyre going with this.
Maybe in a few years Charlie can communicate to them that he isn’t a crisis, and his needs and wants for his future. His family is sure doing their best to give him the tools to do that, and he is already an engaging young man.
Jez Rourke
Feb 14, 2007 at 3:37 am
I read The Record today and I was kind of struck by number 3 on the list: Require pediatricians to screen for autism…. Um, isn’t that what they’re supposed to do? Isn’t a large part of pediatrics noticing developmental “markers.” I do recall my pediatrician poo-pooing my concerns with the catch phrase “all children develop differently.” Blah blah blah. If a pediatrician is not going to notice autism (which they don’t), who will???? If the state of New Jersey pays them extra money, they’ll notice? It’s absurd when you think about it. The physicians we put our children’s health in the hands of are clueless. The implication is that unless mandated by the state, autism is not the business of a pediatrician?
Autism Vox » A Common—Not a Rare—Condition
Feb 14, 2007 at 2:34 pm
[…] is how an editorial in the Feburuary 14th Bergen Record refers to autism. Calling on New Jersey to “show the way” in providing education and services and in researching treatments for autistic persons—such as those referred to in the six autism bills being presented to the State Assembly next week—the editorial makes it clear that there are a lot of autistic persons—1 in every 94 children in New Jersey—and a lot that can be done. […]
NJ Governor Signs Bills on Autism
Sep 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm
[…] 6 Autism Bills to go to NJ State Assembly […]
NJ Governor Signs Bills on Autism
Sep 12, 2007 at 5:45 pm
[…] 6 Autism Bills to go to NJ State Assembly […]
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