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According to figures just released by the California
Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the number of new children
entering California's developmental services system is continuing to increase
at an alarming rate.
The latest figures from DDS show that 566 new children
with professionally diagnosed DSM IV autism, NOT including any children
with PDD, NOS, Asperger's or any other autism spectrum disorder, have
entered the system in the past 90 days.
A rate of over 6 new children
a day.....seven days a week.
It should be noted that in 1994, there were 667 new
cases for the entire year. In the fourth quarter of 2000 alone (three
short months) we added 556 new children.
Since the release of the California Report, which
documented a 273% increase in autism
from 1987-98, there have been 3,871 new children added to the
system, 1,927 new children in 2000 alone.... a 38%
increase in two-years.
It took over 25 years, from the inception of the establishment
of California's developmental services system in 1969 to 1994 to have
5,100 persons with autism in the system.
Remarkably between 1994
to 1999 we DOUBLED the number of cases by adding an additional 5,100 new
children in just five years!
Most disturbing of all is the fact that in 1999, 2000,
and the first half of 2001 we will add at least another 5,100
new cases.... this time in just 2 1/2 years!!
Since the autism epidemic began, the percentage of
overall caseload growth for autism in the California system has increased
from a steady 3% of the total caseload, which also includes mental retardation,
cerebral palsy, and epilepsy, to the current 30 to 34% of the caseload.
An astonishing 1,000%
plus increase over a 20 year period.
Again, these numbers do not
include any autism spectrum disorders other than full-blown
professionally diagnosed cases of DSM IV autism.
The most recent 556 new intakes, as always, are children
under 10 years of age. There is no evidence of "underdiagnosed"
or missing adults or teenagers who have now been discovered with autism
coming into the system.
These are newly diagnosed children, not adults or
teenagers. The California system has been diagnosing autism for over 30
years. It is absolutely astonishing to me that anyone could suggest that
somehow in the past we have missed or misdiagnosed a condition that anyone
who spends less than 1/2 hour with a person with autism couldn't recognize
from across an airport, be it in 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999, or today.
As the best data source
in the world on autism, California continues to lead the way in documenting
the number one public health care crisis in the United States today...the
autism epidemic.
The Department of Developmental Services estimates
that it costs taxpayers at least $2 million for each child added to the
system for a lifetime of care....California's contribution to that taxpayer
liability in the last 90 days has been $1.132 billion. No figure can ever
be put on the cost to the children and their families...6 new children
and their families everyday of the week in California alone.
Rick Rollens of the M.I.N.D.
Institute of California
There is a new caucus called the Congressional
Autism Caucus
Autism, a developmental disability that has been described
as a sort of "mind blindness," afflicts 1
in every 500 children in America. It's more common than Down
Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, or Cystic
Fibrosis.
Autism often robs children of their ability to communicate
and interact with the outside world. And caring for children with autism
can be stressful for their parents.
The Congressional Autism Caucus cited the "neglect"
of autism by "federal health, medical and scientific research programs."
And it told the media what parents of autistic children already know,
that
"there are no diagnostic
laboratory tests for autism, and there are no [FDA] approved treatments
for its symptoms."
That's why Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey,
along with several colleagues, formed the Caucus. The goal is to raise
the profile of this issue and see what can be done for autistic children
and their
parents.
As Smith's letter to the Caucus put it, the idea is to become "a
voice for the voiceless." And if you're familiar with
Chris Smith's record, then you'll understanding how fitting that formulation
is.
Fighting against autism comes out of the same moral
convictions as protecting the unborn: both the child in the womb and the
autistic child (who may not understand what you're saying) are "fearfully
and wonderfully made" by God.
But they are vulnerable, which is why God calls his
people to pay special attention to protecting them. That's why I'm grateful
to Congressman Smith for what he's trying to do.
You can help too.
Get your congressperson
or senator to sign up as part of Chris Smith's caucus.
It's a great way to help
a great bunch of kids and their families and to remind Christians and
non-Christians alike what it really means to be "pro-life."
For further reference:
Rosenfeld, Megan. "The Congressman's Faith Accompli."
Washington Post, 10 June 1997.
Smith, Christopher H. and Mike Doyle. Memorandum regarding
Congressional Autism Conference, 13 February 2001. http://www.autisminfo.com/caucus.htm
Copyright (c) 2001 Prison
Fellowship Ministries
Related Articles:
Recent
Congressional Testimony on Autism
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