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April is Autism Awareness Month, a time during which we have the opportunity to raise awareness about a disability of increasing proportion.
Autism is a developmental disability that usually appears in the first three years of a child’s life. The disease, a neurological disorder, affects the normal development of the part of the brain that controls social interaction and communication skills. Autism knows no racial, social, or economic boundaries, but it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls. In 2004, as many as 1.5 million Americans had some form of autism. The disease, which is growing at a rate of 10-17% annually, could affect more than four million lives within the next decade.
Experts are finding better ways to understand and work with autistic individuals, but the disease is still greatly misunderstood. Some progress has been made, however. Less than a decade ago most people with autism were eventually placed in institutions. Today, with the assistance of specialized programs and services, even the severely disabled are able to live life with greater independence. As with other diseases, early diagnosis is crucial because autism is a disorder which affects each individual differently and at varying degrees. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the earlier the child can begin to benefit from the specialized intervention programs which aim to lessen disruptive behaviors and teach self-help skills that allow for greater independence.
As Vice-Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over health issues, I am extremely concerned about autism. In 2000 I introduced the Children’s Health Act, which coordinated the autism efforts of several federal agencies. Those agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health, have now established a federally funded research effort related to autism and other children’s health issues. Since its enactment, I have been overseeing the implementation of the Children’s Health Act and will continue to promote the importance of autism research, awareness, and education.
In order to ensure a better quality of life for individuals with autism, parents, teachers and community leaders must be increasingly aware of the signs of autism. Individuals who would like to learn more about autism can find information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.
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