ACON Director: Bills could bring end to autism discrimination

November 5, 2008

Posted: Nov 5, 2008 03:16 PM CST

Updated: Nov 5, 2008 03:16 PM CST

The founder and executive director of the Autism Coalition of Nevada

(ACON) says two bills, one being proposed in the Nevada legislature

and another in the U.S. Senate could put an end to discrimination

against children with autism.

Executive Director Ralph Toddre made an appearance on Nevada

Newsmakers on KRNV News 4 on Tuesday to speak about the two bills and

the state of autism in Nevada.

Nevada Assemblyman Ohrenschall will present a bill in the next

legislative session that if passed will end insurance company

discrimination against children with autism.

One in 150 children has autism. It is a proven biological disorder,

yet most insurance companies don't cover treatment.

According to Toddre, some families can spend in upwards of $40,000 a

year on proven treatments for autism. Because insurance companies

often don't cover the treatment families are forced to turn to the

government and private organizations for help.

Human services funding has been on the chopping block with Nevada's

recent budget shortfall. The $2 million dollars in funding for

autism treatment and research allocated in the last legislative

session will be cut completely from next year's budget.

" We have had such a tremendous change in this country away from human

services, " Toddre says. " We still are a great country that takes care

of its citizens. "

Another bill advocating for autism treatment is slated to go before

the U.S. Senate in the next two weeks. It's called the Autism

Treatment Acceleration Act of 2008.

Toddre says this bill would provide funding for translational

research, which is research of effective treatments for the disease.

It also includes a measure that would require insurance companies to

cover autism treatments.

Toddre is the President and C.O.O. of Sunbelt Communications Company,

parent company of News 4 and KRNV.com.

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