Schafer Autism Report : Palin Details Special Needs Policies

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In This Issue:

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POLITICS

Palin Details Special Needs Policies

On Autism, McCain Does Get It

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PUBLIC HEALTH

Parents, Doctors Air Vaccine Worries At Hospital Forum

Scientists Slam FDA Report On Bisphenol A Chemical

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PEOPLE

Teacher Accused of Abusing Autistic Children

Brothers And Sisters Learn To Live With Autism

CARE

Parents Fear Internet Addiction

COMMENTARY

N.J. Parents Should Have Vaccine Choices

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POLITICS

Palin Details Special Needs Policies

By t Eilperin for the Washington

Post. bit.ly/1WyyTV

GOP vice presidential nominee Palin

outlined for the first time today how she and McCain would aid

children with special needs if they occupied the White House next year.

In a speech in Pittsburgh, Penn., Palin

pledged that a McCain-Palin administration would fully fund the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act, exempt disability programs from the

domestic discretionary spending freeze they plan to institute next year,

and will provide school vouchers so families can send their special needs

children to the school of their choice.

" Too often, even in our own day,

children with special needs have been set apart and excluded, " said Palin,

whose infant son Trig has Down syndrome. " Too often, state and federal

laws add to their challenges, instead of removing barriers and opening new

paths of opportunity. Too often, they are made to feel that there is no

place for them in the life of our country, that they don't count or have

nothing to contribute. This attitude is a grave disservice to these

beautiful children, to their families, and to our country -- and I will

work to change it. "

While the Alaska governor has spoken

repeatedly on the stump about how families with disabled children can

expect her to be " a friend and an advocate " if elected next

month, she had not outlined what policies she would pursue as vice

president until today.

Palin's pledge to fully fund IDEA would direct

billions to the program over the next few years, though her proposal would

not immediately cover the entire gap in funding that exists now.

Thirty-three years ago, the federal

government adopted a system in which it would shoulder 40 percent of the

burden of educating disabled children, while states would fund the

remaining 60 percent. At the moment, the U.S. government spends just under

$11 billion annually on the program, whereas it would have to devote $26

billion a year to live up to its initial commitment.

A Palin aide who asked not to be identified

said that the campaign would ask to spend $45 billion to fund IDEA over

five years, though the funding would be backloaded and start at $3 billion

a year, rather than the $15 billion a year required to fully fund the

program.

In her speech, Palin said the federal

government could finance the new investment by taking some of $18 billion

it spends each year on earmarks, specific projects that are designated by

members of Congress.

" That's more than the shortfall to

fully fund the IDEA, " she said. " And where does a lot of that

earmark money end up? It goes to projects having little or nothing to do

with the public good -- things like fruit fly research in Paris, France, or

a public policy center named for the guy who got the earmark. In our

administration, we're going to reform and refocus. We're going to get our

federal priorities straight, and fulfill our country's commitment to give

every child opportunity and hope in life. "

As soon as Palin spoke, Democrats issued a

long list of examples in which McCain had voted against fully funding IDEA

and other special education programs. They also noted that scientific

studies involving fruit flies are helping further researchers' understanding

of autism, a disorder that both Palin and McCain speak of frequently while

campaigning. Palin's nephew has autism, something she mentioned in today's

speech.

+ Video of Palin Speech: bit.ly/sZFp6

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• • •

On Autism, McCain Does Get It

By Rhonda Swan for the Palm Beach Post.

bit.ly/2642e4

Sen. McCain may or may not be our next

president, but to me he'll always be the first politician who made autism

part of the national agenda.

It's one of the few things Sen. McCain seems

willing to spend money on.

During last week's final presidential

debate, Sen. McCain brought up autism, a neurobiological disorder that

affects physical, social, and language skills, to sing the praises of his

running mate Palin: " She understands that autism is on the rise,

that we've got to find out what's causing it, and we've got to reach out to

these families, and help them ... " I disagree with Sen. McCain on a lot

of issues, but on this we're in sync.

So I'm going to overlook the fact that the

only reason special-needs children are getting so much attention in this

race is because it takes the focus off all the other things Gov. Palin

doesn't understand.

Like Gov. Palin, I have an autistic nephew.

A handsome toddler, he has the biggest eyes, the brightest smile and the

muscle tone of a bodybuilder.

That's a good thing, except that he likes to

hit. Hard. With his fists, drumsticks, or any object he can find. It's one

of his idiosyncrasies, or repeated behaviors, that are symptomatic of many

autistic children.

Words don't come easily, so he struggles to

express himself, and we struggle to understand.

He loves to play with balls, but doesn't

like to be touched.

Every so often, though, he lets me steal a

kiss. Sometimes, he'll even give me a pound, also known as a fist bump.

Friends and strangers, unaware that he's

special, dismiss him as " bad " or " interesting. "

My brother, not wanting pity for himself or

his son, doesn't bother to explain. He just nods, smiles and continues to

be an amazingly loving and patient dad.

" Dude " - my family sure can pick

some nicknames - will celebrate his third birthday next month, and we're

grateful that he was diagnosed early so he can get the help he needs.

Still, the diagnosis hit his parents like a

knockout punch, and they're still reeling from the blow.

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention says more children than ever have been diagnosed with autism.

About 10,000 Florida children have the disorder.

No one knows the cause.

Some medical professionals suspect the

mercury in vaccines. Scientists also are looking into genetic factors.

Bottom line: We need more money to find the

cause and the cure. And we need more money for training and to expand

limited services.

For instance, the majority of special needs

evaluators who work in school systems do not have a background in autism.

As a result, many high-functioning autistic children slip through the

cracks or do not get the specific services or amount of services they need.

Also, treatment for autistic children has a

high price tag. The Autism Society of America estimates that the lifetime

cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5

million.

I doubt that Joe Six-Pack or even Joe the

Plumber can afford that.

This spring, Florida became one of six

states that require insurers to cover autism. But what about the other 44?

Sen. McCain promised that " ... we'll find and we'll spend the money

on research to find the cause of autism. And we'll care for these young

children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do

so. "

From his lips to the ears of Congress.

Politicians are known for unkept promises.

I'll bet the families of autistic children want a maverick on that issue.

Sen. McCain, whether or not you're elected

president next month, do remember and keep your word. If you're still a

senator, you can put your votes where your mouth is.

Rhonda Swan is a member of The Palm Beach

Post Editorial Board.

NOTE: The Schafer Autism Report does not endorse

political candidates or political parties. For a pro-Obama editorial, see

yesterday's SAR. -ed.

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