Soaring Rate of Autism Lends Urgency To Call For Action

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This, ironically comes from mercurynews.com

Lenny

Soaring Rate of Autism Lends Urgency To Call For Action

By Steve Geissinger for MediaNews.

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics/ci_6935084?nclick_check=1

SACRAMENTO - Government agencies are facing a new public health

crisis - a dramatic increase in autistic children - and must swiftly

explore how best to provide better care and protection for them over

their lifetimes, a blue-ribbon state commission concluded Tuesday.

The California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism said

its overall findings included a lack of screening for the disorder,

poor public awareness generally, barriers to seeking care for the

afflicted, and overlapping efforts between the public and private

sectors that need to be better coordinated.

" Throughout the state, " the report says, " there is an intense

need to plan for and address the impending housing, transportation,

employment and educational needs of the tsunami of young people with "

autism.

The panel's report recommended the state adopt legislation next

year to immediately address such problems.

The panel also concluded that urgent efforts should be made to

better educate police and judges so they don't accidentally abuse

those with the disorder, which can be characterized by seemingly

aggressive behavior.

Senate leader Don Perata, an Oakland Democrat, who authored a

bill two years ago forming the 16-member panel, said the report will

allow lawmakers " an opportunity to link the science, knowledge and

best practices regarding autism to public policy. "

The commission's recommendations included:

• Bolstering early identification and intervention.

• Working toward better education of those with the disorder,

through the college years.

• Establishing regulations to ensure appropriate and equitable

health insurance.

• Creating a statewide public awareness campaign.

The disorder has increased more than 600 percent in recent

years, now affecting about one in every 150 children. It is the

fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States.

Read the report at:

http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/ autism/documents/whatsnew/