The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act "CARA" (S-1094 and HR-2005) needs a final push to get over the hump. The deadline to pass it is only 24 days away. Your help in getting it passed is essential. Whether autism affects your life personally or not (and at 1 in 110 births today resulting in a diagnosis, if it doesn't now, it probably will at some point through a friend, neighbor, relative, etc), you have an opportunity with this legislation to let your representatives know that bipartisan bills like CARA that demonstrate Congress can work across the aisle and solve important issues together are what voters want to see happen in Washington.
The original and highly successful bill, the Combating Autism Act of 2006, was the first Federal response to this critical public health crisis that's seriously challenging many of our citizens and institutions. It has given a turbo boost to research and it's coordinated many Federal Agencies so they are pulling in the same direction. This reauthorization continues that work...work that has already paid tremendous dividends and uncovered promising leads to improve the lives of people with autism spectrum disorders. More below the fold.
Dodd and Santorum. Rubio and Schumer. Franken and Thune. Menendez and Enzi. These are just a few of the names of folks who have come together on this issue. They all sponsored or co-sponsored this CARA legislation. Each one recognized that a very unusual "single disorder" piece of legislation like this was needed to dramatically speed up the pace of medical research and coordinate a Federal response to one of the fastest growing diagnoses in America today. The Obama Administration has spent a ton of time and effort to help push this legislation, including a Conference at the White House this past April. The leading national autism advocacy organizations like the Autism Society and Autism Speaks support reauthorization. Your voice is needed too.
In addition to the personal, emotional, medical, and social challenges that are fellow travelers for many with autism and their families, a diagnosis can result in crushed family balance sheets and stressed out school budgets and programs. Autism also promises to wreak havoc on the current fragile social support systems that people with disabilites rely on like Social Security Supplemental Income and Medicare/Medicaid programs. Leading policy and law makers understand that action was and continues to be essential so people with autism can get the supports they need to lead happy, rewarding, and productive lives.
So far, 25 Senators have co-sponsored CARA but only 63 members of the House are on board. A bunch of them need a swift kick in the rear. The original bill passed by overwhelming majorities in both houses and, after experiencing an unconscionable multi-month hold (shakedown?) by Rep. Joe Barton (R-BigOil TX), was immediately signed into law by George W. Bush.
You can check who has and hasn't signed up at the following website and click through to send a quick note to your Rep or Senator. Please take a second to do it. Unfortunately, lot of folks in our community (not all, though) are either unable to self advocate or so stressed out by dealing with autism issues on the micro level (doctors, therapists, teachers, school administrators, insurance companies, etc.) that macro advocacy is simply not doable. Please be their voice in your community and tell legislators that supporting people with disabilities like autism is important to you.
http://www.autismvotes.org/...
The actual legislation can be found here on govtrack.us here:
http://www.govtrack.us/... and here:
http://www.govtrack.us/...
Note: What would an autism diary be without a little controversy? Fortunately this one, unlike many in our community, is relatively minor. CARA reauthorization enjoys an overwhelming amount of support among people with autism, their families, and caregivers. However, a handful of adult "self advocates" oppose this legislation (and medical research in general) because they believe autism is a "difference" rather than disability, and as such all funding should go to supports, not medical research and inquiry. While increased funding for supports is critical, that's not what this legislation is about. It is about directing resources and coordinating scientific research priorities, as well as leveraging public dollars by partnering with the private sector and academia to discover the basic scientific information about this highly complex disorder. Discoveries funded with this legislation will lead to therapies and tools to help people affected by autism remove the often incredible roadblocks that affect so many and may someday even lead to a cure for some people.