Public Hearing: Autism
By pd
http://wamu.org/news/08/09/30.php#23142
http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/news/2008/sep/30/emotional-hearing-parents-autistic-children/
On this past Monday, a full bus of Loudoun residents attended and spoke at the Public Hearing in Richmond before the Special Advisory Board for Insurance Mandates to urge the Board to support a mandate for autism insurance coverage (see media coverage above). A news crew from CNN and Washington Post reporter accompanied the Loudoun residents on the bus, which departed from Lansdowne Town Center. Led by Delegate Poisson, the Loudoun group joined over 100 other parents and supporters from around the Commonwealth and spoke of a compelling need to provide autism insurance coverage and early intervention. Formerly called House Bill 83, Delegate Bob Marshall (patron) and Delegate David Poisson prefiled House Bill 1588, a revised version that encompasses the input from other state legislation (Read the Bill at the following link: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+HB1588 ).
Virginia families are also receiving support from Autism Speaks to help coordinate its grassroots efforts and reaching almost 20,000 registrants throughout Virginia. See: http://www.autismvotes.org/site/c.frKNI3PCImE/b.4445103/
The Special Advisory Board for Insurance Mandate is chaired by Delegate Hugo and Vice Chaired by Senator Barker. They will review the volumes of information presented including a petition signed by over 2000 Virginians, and make a recommendation in early November. They will present their recommendation to the General Assembly in January 2009 when HB1588 will be up for vote. On November 10, Northern Virginians will have the opportunity to present their input on comprehensive autism services at the upcoming JLARC input session in Woodbridge (see: http://jlarc.state.va.us/Autism_Input.htm ).
Loudoun has the largest youth population in the Commonwealth (37% under the age of 18). Clearly, the increasing rates of autism (1 in 150 nationwide; 1 in 94 boys; 1 in 88 military families) require leaders to take action to support these young individuals and families afflicted by this neurobiological disorder. Parents want their children to overcome this disorder and lead a self-reliant, dignified life. Action and support is necessary to raise awareness and increase early intervention and support these efforts to improve State and County services.
Facts about Autism
• 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
• 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
• 67 children are diagnosed per day
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Incidence vs. Private Funding
• Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000 / Funding: $310 million
• Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million
• Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
• Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $130 million
• Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $42 million
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