Notes from the Hill
by Katy
I’ve been doing public policy for more than 20 years, and I’ve seen a lot of issues rise and fall. The issues surrounding the needs of children and adults with disabilities keep rising to the top. I’m hopeful that we as a society will do something meaningful to help these families.
As Director of Congressional Relations for Easter Seals, I see a lot of similarities between how people with mental retardation were treated 30 years ago and how people with autism are treated today. Back then, people with developmental disabilities were considered too disruptive … incapable of holding down a job or living in their community. I’m hopeful that it won’t take us 30 years to change the way society feels about people with autism.
We have a good shot at getting funding for the Combating Autism Act. The CAA would fund activities that help people with autism live with equality, dignity, and independence. Congress is now beginning to decide on its funding and will make a final decision this summer. And the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act is a bill that seeks to increase the supply of services for children and adults living with autism
I’ve been working to try to get groups that advocate for other types of people with disabilities to support autism-specific bills. So far, so good.
You can help too … ask your legislators to fund the Combating Autism Act and to support the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Glad to hear you are working to get support for legislation concerningn autism. You say you’ve been working to get groups that advocate for other types of people with disabilities to support autism-specific bills. Am curious – have any groups “officially” signed on? I’d like to write to thank them.