Queensland Premier Anna Bligh

Australian politician, Anna Bligh has announced that $50 million of funding will go to new initiatives for education for special needs students across the state of Queensland. This announcement comes after reports that funding for services for children with autism in Australia was so dire that families were forced to leave the country.

Ms Bligh made the announcement at Mitchelton Special School as she continued to campaign around Brisbane today.

“Education matters to every child and I want to make sure every Queensland child gets a flying start with the best possible education and that means making sure we look after those students who have a disability or special need,” she said.

The announcement included a new autism center for excellence, $13.1 million to adapt the curriculum for children with autism, including 50 scholarships for postgraduate autism teacher studies, and a further $9.8m in training for principals and $8.2m for teacher aides.

“This package will see the biggest investment in professional development for teacher aides, teachers and principals that we’ve seen for many years,” Bligh said.

“It will also fund additional equipment to assist teachers who are working with students with special needs.”
The initiative will be funded through a combination of grants from the Queensland Education Trust and National Partnership Agreement funding.

(Photo by limaoscarjuliet/Flickr)

As autism becomes more prevalent in the United States, parents become increasingly concerned about services for their children and how they will be able to find affordable treatment. Governor John Lynch is on the forefront of the autism battle by making sure the residents of New Hampshire are getting essential treatment for their special needs child.

Governor Lynch signed a bill that will take affect on January 1^st, 2011. The bill will ensure that children in New Hampshire with all-encompassing developmental disorders will gain access to proven treatment. The new law requires that insurers cover behavioral, speech and occupational therapy along with already covered medications, and other health-related services.

Thanks to Governor Lynch, New Hampshire was the 22nd State to Enact Autism Insurance Reform Legislation. More specifically, this is known as House Bill 569, and also known as Connor’s Law.

Governor Lynch - New Hampshire

This is excellent news for the residents of New Hampshire. Many people across the US hope that their state will follow this example. In June, the State Assembly passed the New York Autism Insurance reform bill- a bill that requires private health insurance companies to cover the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Such treatment would include therapies prescribed by a doctor that are evidence-based and proven to be effective.

Dealing with autism diagnosis can be extremely hard for parents, but the challenge becomes even more difficult when they are unable to receive services. The passing of bills like these and others can mean a world of difference for parents and children, whose progress is greatly impacted by early intervention and therapy.

For more information on Governor Lynch and his involvement in autism please visit his official website at http://www.governor.nh.gov

(Photo By: Flickr/Rainer Ebert)

Controversy ensued after President Obama nominated Ari Ne’eman, the 22-year-old founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) who also has Asperger’s Syndrome, to serve a position in the Disability Council. As a result, the Senate has placed a hold on his nomination.

If elected, Ne’eman, will make history as the first person with autism to serve on the Disability Council. This new title, however, will also signify the acceptance of Autism as a disability. Because his views focus on the acceptance of individuals with autism in society rather than treatment, the appointment will encourage accommodating autism rather than curing it.

Ne’eman’s views can be reflected on the ASAN‘s website as his mission statement seeks to, “Put…forward the concept that the goal of autism advocacy should not be a world without Autistic people. Instead, it should be a world in which Autistic people enjoy the same access, rights and opportunities as all other citizens.”

As an autism advocate, Ne’eman, has had many disputes with autism organizations such as Autism Speaks, and has also challenged facilities like the Judge Rotenberg Center, for their cruel practice of electric shock and seclusion.

The Senate‘s role in pausing his nomination says something both about the old and new way of governing in addition to how the world will see autism. Accept or prevent and treat, ICare4Autism will keep you posted through RSS feed. Access it here

The case Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 09-152 will argue whether companies will be held responsible for causing autism (Photo by Flickr/ProgressOhio)

As the search for the primary cause of autism continues, mounting scientific evidence is showing consistency in study results which continue to shift the reoccurring blame from the mother’s age and genetics to  medications and vaccines.

This pointed finger comes from studies such as the one held by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 2007.

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Now, The Supreme Court may decide to empower women by allowing them to sue vaccine makers for their possible role in causing autism.

One of the 5,000 autism cases that have led to this enormous debate include a Pennsylvania trial that involved a child who developed seizures after a third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. As a result, the parents sued Wyeth, a pharmaceutical company, which is now owned by Pfizer.

…the ruling will decide whether women will finally be able to assume power over the pharmaceutical industry.

On an interesting side note, a now 92-year-old, Wyeth investor, Violet Patton, just donated a whopping 28 million dollars to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. This is the largest single gift that the University has ever received.

As more legal issues arise such as the aforementioned, steps taken to approve suing pharmaceutical companies may take place quickly. With the overwhelming amount of claims waiting to sue and hold pharmaceutical companies responsible, the ruling will decide whether women will finally be able to assume power over the pharmaceutical industry.

For this reason, Pfizer issued in a statement that they are “hopeful that the Supreme Court will affirm” the…ruling in Wyeth’s favor.

The case Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 09-152 will argue whether companies who deliver vaccines containing Thimerosal will be held responsible for the children with autism as opposed to the mother’s genetics.

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From Scientist.com,

Collins’s confirmation proceeded via unanimous consent, without the need for a hearing in the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions or a roll-call vote on the Senate floor.

“Dr. Collins will be an outstanding leader,” said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, announcing Collins’s confirmation. “Today is an exciting day for NIH and for science in this country,” she said, according to the Ad Hoc News wire service.

By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel–

Click here to continue reading.

That’s because Jason has Asperger’s Syndrome, a communication disorder on the Autism spectrum.

But thanks to HILL House, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s two-year transition program for intellectually disabled students ages 18-22, Janet Christenberry no longer worries about her son taking public transportation.

Click here to continue reading “Reaching the Top of the Hill”

From Carolyn Scofield, WPTV:  Wendy Portillo broke down in tears when the St. Lucie County School Board made their decision.

She’s still suspended without pay until November, but when she returns to the classroom, she’ll come back with tenure.

Portillo has been a teacher in St. Lucie County for 12 years.

It was a little more than a year ago that Portillo had 5-year old Alex Barton in her Kindergarten class at Morningside Elementary School.

Alex had apparently been acting up.  Portillo had the other students take a vote and they decided to send Alex out of the room.

The incident gained worldwide attention.  Alex was in the process of being diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Autism Rally in NYC

May 27, 2009 iCARE4autism was one of several autism organizations in attendance at New York City Council’s 1 in 150 Autism Services Initiative. City officials, autism advocates, and parents of those with autism gathered on the steps of City Hall to raise awareness and show their support for this initiative, which would support wraparound services for children on the autism spectrum, providing training and referrals for about 8,000 families.

Last year the NYC council allotted $1.575 million to autism services, including after-school programs, weekend respite, sports leagues, parent and teacher training, bilingual services, a crisis-intervention program, kids clubs, autism workshops, and outreach and awareness activities.

Continue reading “Autism Rally in NYC”>>

Senate Select Committee on Autism

A new Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders will be created in California. The committee promises to focus on issues such as health insurance, EI treatment, and employment opportunities for those with ASD. The founder of the committee, State Senate President Darrell Steinberg, said that they will soon establish a series of Task Forces and Working Groups.

To read more, click here.