Senate Appropriations hearing yesterday on Autism research & treatment

[Guest guest]

Senators Harkin, Cochran and Specter attended the hearing with staff from many other offices.

Questions focused on the issues of:

1. Vaccines and the number of vaccines given before age two and their relation to autism. Quite divergent opinions.

2. Importance of early intervention and evidence based interventions especially behavioral approaches

3. Availability of interventions and the need for insurance coverage to pay for them

4. Need for additional resources for services

5. Need for insurance coverage

6. Need to focus on transitional youth who are becoming adults especially for post secondary options

The actual hearing can be viewed in its entirety at the following link.

http://www.senate.gov/fplayers/CommPlayer/commFlashPlayer.cfm?fn=appropsA080509 & st=1235

WED. August 5, 2009

Labor, HHS, and Education and Related Agencies (Chairman Harkin)

Time and Location: 10 a.m., Dirksen 138

Agenda: Testimony on “Autism Research, Treatments and Interventions”

Witnesses: Panel I:

Dr. R. Insel

Director

National Institute of Mental Health

Bethesda, land

Witnesses:Panel II:

Ms. Geraldine Dawson

Chief Science Officer

Autism Speaks

Charlotte, North Carolina

Mr. Cobbs

Chairperson

Iowa Autism Council

Sioux City, Iowa

Akins Boyd, J.D.

Vice Chairman

Mississippi Autism Task Force

Oxford, Mississippi

Mr. , J.D.*

Board of Directors

Northern Virginia Community College

ndale, Virginia

Ms. Dana Halverson*

BEAT-Iowa

Ankeny, Iowa

Hope you find this helpful.

Jesien, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 920

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Tele: , ext 207

E-mail: gjesien@...

Web: www.aucd.org

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