Autism 411

Autism is a neurological developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, communication skills, and behavior. Autism, a lifelong disability, can be very severe or mild. It is a spectrum disorder, involving a variety of symptoms and a range of developmental disorders. Though it was extremely rare 25 years ago, it is now the fastest growing developmental disability in America. More common than Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Childhood Cancers combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in every 150 children in the United States is diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Despite this dramatic increase, autism has been one of the least funded areas of research.

Services for autistic people are also sorely lacking. Most treatments for autistics are not covered by medical insurance. Federal funding through Medicaid and various waivers are relatively limited. Public schools often cannot keep up with the demand, nor devote enough time and resources to help effectively. Largely, teachers do not have the training to teach these children or provide a truly appropriate environment for their unique needs. The Combating Autism Act will provide nearly a billion dollars for Autism research over the next few years. This is an incredible victory, but does not immediately provide direct aid to desperately struggling families. That is the focus of Myles-A-Part; direct support for the interventions generally not covered by insurance or other funding resources... read more >>

Helpful Links

autism-society.org	firstsigns.org
autismconnect.org	autismspeaks.org
nbcdi.org - Child Health Talk	unlockingautism.org
specialed.com	researchautism.org
wrightslaw.com	asaga.com - Autism Society of America
autismwebsite.com	autism-pdd.net
autism-resources.com