Consensus Statement - :: Combat Autism ::

Autism Community Consensus Statement Supporting the
Combating Autism Act of 2005

November 17, 2005

Dear Senator Santorum,

We write to you on behalf of national organizations assisting children diagnosed with autism, their families and other supporting organizations. Collectively, our organizations represent millions of family members, researchers, and medical professionals throughout the country, and we thank you for your support of The Combating Autism Act (S. 843) of 2005.

The autism community is united in its support of the provisions contained in The Combating Autism Act, as revised and presented to you in a joint delegation meeting today. We believe the revisions strengthen and enhance the Combating Autism Act, and the undersigned organizations stand in full support of the bill as now written.

Further, the autism community, represented by the undersigned organizations, stands fully prepared to engage in widespread grassroots mobilization in support of the revised bill.

Thank you for your commitment to our nation’s most precious resource…its children.

Respectfully,

A-CHAMP
Autism One
Autism Society of America
Autism Speaks
COSAC
Cure Autism Now
Dan Marino Foundation
First Signs
Generation Rescue
Moms Against Mercury
National Alliance for Autism Research
National Autism Association
NoMercury
Organization for Autism Research
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
SafeMinds
S.A.F.E. Inc.
Talk About Curing Autism
TalkAutism
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
Unlocking Autism
US Autism and Asperger's Association

• Summary Bill Description

• H.2421 Full Text

• S.843 Full Text

• Consensus Statement

Why It's Important for Your Legislator to Become a Co-sponsor
The EPIAA will accomplish the following goals in the fight against autism:

The EPIAA will authorize approximately $350 million in new federal money – over and above all existing federal spending on autism – for important initiatives related to treatments, interventions, and services for both children and adults with autism.

More specifically, the EPIAA authorizes -

The creation of a task force (with not less than 1/3 autism community membership) to report to Congress and the Executive Branch on the state of evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for both children and adults with autism, including identifying gaps in applied research on such treatments, interventions and services.
Demonstration grants for the coverage of treatments, interventions and services ($20 million annually).
Planning and demonstration grants for services for adults with autism ($20 million annually).
Grants for the expansion of access to immediate post-diagnosis care ($10 million in Fiscal Year 2009, growing to $20 million by Fiscal Year 2012).
National training grants for the University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities for training, technical assistance and additional services for individuals with autism and their families ($13.4 million annually).
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on service provision and financing.
Grants to protection and advocacy systems to better meet the needs of families facing autism and other developmental disabilities, including legal representation ($6 million annually).

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