Rhode Island governor signs autism legislation
by Denise
This week, following state legislative passage, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri signed the Rhode Island Autism Spectrum Disorder Evaluation and Treatment Act into law. You can view the Act here (PDF).
Easter Seals affiliates in other states are hoping to help pass this type of legislation so that people with autism can benefit from our expertise in diagnosis and screening, and when necessary, from our autism services.
The Act creates a special governmental joint venture between the department of health, the department of elementary and secondary education, and the department of human services to promote public awareness of and the use of early intervention services in regard to autism spectrum disorder.
The legislature specifically wanted to reinforce screening for children who are uninsured and/or underinsured through the Rhode Island department of health with assistance from experts, service providers and parents and to provide appropriate testing and screening models and to create a case management system to properly catalogue such diagnosis.
The department of education will develop a continuing education certificate in autism spectrum disorders at Rhode Island College.
A number of states are looking at similar legislation in their upcoming sessions, beginning in January, to promote awareness, screening and diagnosis, and professional development.