Action Alert: Combating Autism Act

[Guest guest]

ACTION ALERT

Urge Your Members to Support Reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act

February 13, 2011

BACKGROUND:

In 2006, President Bush signed into law the Combating Autism Act (CAA, PL 109-416). The law focused on expanding research and coordination at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), increasing awareness programs and surveillance at the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and expanding the interdisciplinary training of health professionals to identify and support children with ASD and their families through programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Section 399BB (e) specifically authorizes the expansion of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) programs to increase their efforts to train professionals to diagnose or rule out autism spectrum disorders or other developmental disabilities and to provide evidence-based interventions for individuals on the autism spectrum.

This law is scheduled for reauthorization this year. Due to sunset language this law will expire if it is not reauthorized by September 2011. Senator Dodd (D-CT) introduced a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act (S. 4044) just before the end of the last Congress. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has agreed to sponsor a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act in the new Congress based on scaled back version of S. 4044. The new bill also includes a training provision to provide supplemental funding for University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) programs to address the training and technical assistance needs of professionals who provide intervention and supports to youth and adults with ASD. However, we still need a Republican co-sponsor, preferably one who is a member of the Senate HELP Committee. On the House side, Representatives (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) are working on a bill to reauthorize the Combating Autism Act.

While there continues to be strong support in Congress to address the needs of individuals and families with Autism, there are new and intense pressures to reduce spending and the number of Federal programs. If we do not educate Members of Congress about the success and cost-effectiveness of this law, we may be in danger of losing some or all of the new expansion efforts that have been so successful in getting real services to children on the spectrum.

TAKE ACTION:

· Contact your Members of Congress, in person or by phone. If by phone, use the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at and ask for the office of your Member.

· Urge your Members to support the reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act – Do not let it expire!

· If your Member is a Republican on the Senate HELP Committee (linked here and listed below). Urge him/her to co-sponsor the CAA reauthorization with Sen. Menendez.

· Urge support of the new National Training Provision to UCEDDs or other eligible entities to provide interdisciplinary training to a wide-range of professionals supporting youth and adults with ASD.

Talking Points

· There continues to be a staggering number of children affected by on the Autism Spectrum Disorders (1 in 110, according to CDC estimates)

· According to a recent congressionally mandated report to Congress, in the past four years under the provisions of the CAA, significant advances have been made in our understanding and treatment of ASDs.

· Notably, reliable estimates of the prevalence and a clearer picture of both the opportunities and gaps that exist in ASD research and services are now available.

· The addition of 4 new Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) programs and additional funding to existing programs resulting in

o screening of over 46,000 infants and children and

o provision of university coursework, continuing education events and other events to over 155,000 participants in FY2010 leading to an increased workforce capability to screen and treat those with ASDs;

· CAA funding directly contributed to dramatic improvements in the numbers of children receiving screening and diagnostic assessments for ASDs through public awareness efforts and training of health professionals.

· Numerous studies have shown that the earlier that children are treated the more likely they are to have positive outcomes including cost saving measures

· While the median age for ASD diagnosis (~4.5 years of age) appears to be favorably on the decline, new CDC data indicates that there continues to be a critical need for improved access to early evaluation and diagnostic services.

· While Federal agencies are actively identifying best practices and implementing programs to increase quality of life for people with ASD, significant gaps remain in access to evidence-based interventions, education, supported employment, family supports, and transition services across the lifespan.

· Progress made under CAA in increasing the capacity of professionals and service systems to address these gaps must be sustained and expanded.

· Training of a wide range of interdisciplinary professionals to provide services and supports is needed to translate the newest research into practice, and to provide accurate information to people with ASD and their families about scientifically supported interventions, with ongoing focus on strategic efforts aimed at underserved populations.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee

Committee Chair

Sen.Tom Harkin (DEM-IA)

Ranking Member

Sen. B. Enzi (REP-WY)

Democrats (11)

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (DEM-MD)

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (DEM-NM)

Sen. Patty Murray (DEM-WA)

Sen. Bob Casey (DEM-PA)

Sen. Kay Hagan (DEM-NC)

Sen. Jeff Merkley (DEM-OR)

Sen. Al en (DEM-MN)

Sen. Bennet (DEM-CO)

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (DEM-RI)

Sen. Blumenthal (DEM-CT)

Republicans (10)

Sen. Lamar (REP-TN)

Sen. Burr (REP-NC)

Sen. ny Isakson (REP-GA)

Sen. Rand (REP-KY)

Sen. Orrin Hatch (REP-UT)

Sen. McCain (REP-AZ)

Sen. Pat (REP-KS)

Sen. Murkowski (REP-AK)

Sen. Mark Kirk (REP-IL)

Independents

Sen. Bernard (IND-VT)