[Note: Shared for #AutisticHistory archive purposes. This is NOT An Autistic Ally.]
Autism Leaders Call on Senate to Act on Smith-Doyle Bill
House passed legislation, awaits Senate action Washington, Sep 21 –
In the wake of a key House vote last night, the nation’s fight against the epidemic of autism is front and center as H.R. 2005, “The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act,” a bipartisan bill authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) with Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-14) as the prime cosponsor, passed the House and moves to the Senate. The measure will renew the nation’s programs for autism early detection, surveillance, research, education, awareness and treatment.
“One percent of all our children have an autism spectrum disorder,” said Smith, whose own state of New Jersey is believed to have the highest rate of autism in the country. “That’s unprecedented. It’s a pandemic of developmental disabilities. There is a sense of urgency. This battle has not been won.
Getting the legislation through the House was the first critical step and I am grateful that both Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor support the bill and the work that has been done at the federal level to help families with autism. Yesterday we passed it, today we’re asking respectfully that the Senate take up H.R. 2005, the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011. I have spoken to some on the Senate side who have raised concerns and I am optimistic that these critical programs will be reauthorized and advanced.”
Smith and Doyle are co-chairs of the bipartisan Coalition on Autism Research and Education (CARE). The new legislation reauthorizes the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006. The reauthorization of CAA would be for an additional three years, through September 30, 2014.
“I’m here today with my friend and co-chair of the Autism Caucus Congressman Smith to say how pleased we are that the House passed the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act yesterday on a voice vote,” Doyle said. “Over a million individuals are living with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and when you add in their families and caretakers, millions of Americans are affected by ASD. The Combating Autism Act, which was approved five years ago, provided funding for research related to autism spectrum disorder, early identification of autism, and promoting early intervention.
Cong. Smith gestures to the Senate side of the Capitol after the House passed Smith’s autism bill, which now awaits Senate action. Cong. Mike Doyle, the prime cosponor of the bill, is at left.
“The Combating Autism Act has made a huge difference in the lives of thousands of autistic Americans and their families,” Doyle said. “And while we have made important progress in research on autism within the past few years, much remains to learn about the risk factors and causes of this group of conditions. Consequently, it’s critical that Congress reauthorize the Combating Autism Act. With the Combating Autism Act authorization expiring next week, it is essential that the Senate act this week to pass legislation to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act – and I encourage my Senate colleagues to do so.”
The bill passed unanimously in a voice vote Tuesday night, and now awaits Senate passage. The bill will continue the success of the CAA of 2006 by authorizing funding for programs at NIH, CDC, and HRSA for three additional years. Doyle and Smith were joined by: the President of the Autism Society of America, Scott Badesch; Autism Speaks Vice President Peter Bell, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Executive Director, Dr. George Jesien.
“We want to extend our greatest appreciation and thank you to Rep. Smith and Rep. Doyle for their outstanding leadership in getting the Combating Autism Act re-authorization approved by the House,” said Scott Badesch, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Autism Society. “Both Reps. Smith and Doyle are true heroes of the autism community and unselfishly are helping the over 1,500,000 people who live with autism.”
Jesien commented on the CAA’s importance to early screening and care.
“I have talked to families with children with developmental disabilities all over the country who tell me they have to wait for 3-6 months or more to get an appropriate screening and diagnosis,” Jesien said. “Once these children receive a diagnosis of autism or other disability they sometimes have to wait another 6 months to get evidence-based interventions by trained professionals. The Combating Autism Act has led to earlier screenings and diagnoses and ultimately better outcomes and cost-savings for these families and the country.”
Bell praised the CAA in changing lives.
“Since enacted, the CAA has become the model for responsible and effective federal funding on a major public health care issue.,” Bell said. “This act has resulted in meaningful progress in research, while also benefiting those living with autism today. We commend Congressmen Smith and Doyle for their leadership and look forward to swift passage by the Senate so the President can sign the reauthorization by next Friday.”
CARE has consistently worked to increase federal support for autism initiatives, including autism programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Smith’s Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act (Title I, P.L. 106-310) recently marked its own 10th anniversary. The law authorized grants and contracts for the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities, and established regional centers of excellence in autism surveillance and epidemiology. In January 2011, a report required by the CAA, cosponsored by Smith and Doyle, described federal action undertaken since enactment of the CAA – mostly in the areas of research and services.
The report describes autism-related research and service activities carried out by the federal government since enactment of the Combating Autism Act four years ago. It was released by the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the NIH. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one out of every 110 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder.
The Autism Community Is Not The Autistic Community
Note/Warning:
Autistic people have fought the inclusion of ABA in therapy for us since before Autism Speaks, and other non-Autistic-led autism organizations, started lobbying legislation to get it covered by insurances and Medicaid.
ABA is a myth originally sold to parents that it would keep their Autistic child out of an institution. Today, parents are told that with early intervention therapy their child will either be less Autistic or no longer Autistic by elementary school, and can be mainstreamed in typical education classes. ABA is very expensive to pay out of pocket. Essentially, Autism Speaks has justified the big price tag up front will offset the overall burden on resources for an Autistic’s lifetime. The recommendation for this therapy is 40 hours a week for children and toddlers.
The original study that showed the success rate of ABA to be at 50% has never been replicated. In fact, the study of ABA by United States Department of Defense was denounced as a failure. Not just once, but multiple times. Simply stated: ABA doesn’t work. In study after repeated study: ABA (conversion therapy) doesn’t work.
What more recent studies do show: Autistics who experienced ABA therapy are at high risk to develop PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions. Historically, the autism organizations promoting ABA as a cure or solution have silenced Autistic advocates’ opposition. ABA is also known as gay conversion therapy.
The ‘cure’ for Autistics not born yet is the prevention of birth.
The ‘cure’ is a choice to terminate a pregnancy based on ‘autism risk.’ The cure is abortion. This is the same ‘cure’ society has for Down Syndrome.
This is eugenics 2021. Instead of killing Autistics and disabled children in gas chambers or ‘mercy killings’ like in Aktion T4, it’ll happen at the doctor’s office, quietly, one Autistic baby at a time. Different approaches yes, but still eugenics and the extinction of an entire minority group of people.
Fact: You can’t cure Autistics from being Autistic.
Fact: You can’t recover an Autistic from being Autistic.
Fact: You can groom an Autistic to mask and hide their traits. Somewhat. … however, this comes at the expense of the Autistic child, promotes Autistic Burnout (this should not be confused with typical burnout, Autistic Burnout can kill Autistics), and places the Autistic child at high risk for PTSD and other lifelong trauma-related conditions.
[Note: Autism is NOT a disease, but a neurodevelopmental difference and disability.]
Fact: Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.
International Badass Activists 