The Autism Act Bill Extension is Back in Autism News
At the end of September 2011, President Obama signed an extension of the Combating Autism Act on the day it was set to expire. The measure keeps existing programs in place for a three-year extension period, but has drawn criticism for doing little to move forward, redress shortcomings in therapy resources, or manage the needs of the growing adult autistic population.
Combating Autism Act Extension Extends Current Autistic Services
The bill calls for $231 million in funding each year through 2014 to fund a range of services and research activities, including autism research, education, intervention, and early identification programs throughout the United States. As an extension, it’s nearly identical to the original law, first enacted in 2006.
Without the president’s signature, the act would have expired and endangered initiatives and research programs that relied on funding from the act. Peter Bell, executive vice president at Autism Speaks, told Disability Scoop, “It’s very exciting that autism research will be able to continue without interruption.” He called the extension “a significant relief” to autism researchers.
Autism in Children: Only Part of the Story
Though autism advocacy groups lobbied heavily for the bill – which was voted on right before the Senate left for a break, and after Republicans removed a hold on the measure – there have been concerns about the way the act was extended rather than rewritten. According to another Disability Scoop article, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network said the bill doesn’t do enough to address the needs of adults and allocates too little funding for services to help people currently living with autism.
The focus on autism has long been geared toward early identification of the developmental disorder and childhood intervention. However, the need for adult services continues to increase as a growing number of autistic children are becoming autistic adults. Research has found mothers of children with autism to have similar chronic stress to that endured by combat soldiers. Parents of adult autistic children suffer more disruptions at work and have less leisure time than other parents of adults, and adult autistic children can have difficulty getting the services they need to live a full and healthy life.
Is the Combating Autism Act Extension a Step Forward? Or Just Marching In Place?
In a small, private signing, Obama put pen to paper in a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office with eight others – all representatives of disability organizations and family members of people with autism, along with New Jersey Representative Chris Smith, who sponsored the act.
Though the bill doesn’t contain much in the way of new provisions, supporters argued that the legislation was realistic in today’s political climate. Since it didn’t allow current programs to lapse, this camp views the act as a step forward.
What do you think? Does the Combating Autism Act Extension deserve our praise? Should it be celebrated? Or does it fall short of the mark?
Find therapy resources and join the therapy conversation with Santé Pediatrics – follow us on Twitter, join our Talent Community, or visit santepediatrics.com.
Children with special needs are often treated differently than other children, and sometimes their potential for success is overlooked because focus is placed on their disabilities rather than on their abilities. 
