Assembly bills aim to better autism awareness
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. recently announced his work on a seven-bill package designed to improve detection, treatment and awareness of autism in New Jersey.

A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found New Jersey to have the nation's highest reported rate of autism, in one out of every 94 children, whereas the national rate is one out of every 150 people.

"I've had family members that were diagnosed with autism and I do realize that New Jersey is unfortunately a leader in this category," Roberts said. "I've found that there is wide interest on this item and I do realize that we need help for those who have autism."

The bills in the package would:

+ Establish a centralized state-wide autism registry, which would assist researchers in developing an idea of the problem, as well as assisting the state in planning ways to provide assistance to families.

+ Train teachers in autism awareness, to ensure familiarity with autism and how to properly deal with autistic students in a classroom environment.

+ Create a task force on adult autism, to develop achievable goals for the state government in serving the autistic adult community.

+ Require autism awareness training for emergency personnel, to increase awareness and recognition of signs of autism.

+ Provide an additional $4 million in funding for the Governor's Council on Autism, and restructure the council to encourage more diversity and different opinions to be heard and considered.

+ Instruct physicians to detect autism within the first three years of a child's life.

Roberts said the package would complement and fortify the state's existing network of support and services for children and adults with autism. Roberts said that certain aspects of the package have already been introduced in the Legislature and that these will be augmented with other bills being drafted for introduction in the next few weeks. He also anticipated there would be bi-partisan support for the package.

"[Gov.] Jon Corzine supports this, along with so many others," Roberts said. "I've received so much positive feedback about this and I look forward to seeing how all of this will work out."

Stephanie Kalinoski, president of the nonprofit Improving Middletown's Program for Autistic Children Together (IMPACT), said it's about time that the state government stepped up its efforts to help those in the autistic community.

"The numbers are increasing dramatically, as far as the number of autistic people in our state," Kalinoski said. "The support is overdue, but I'm glad it is finally looking like the help is on its way. Hopefully more research can be done in order to help those in need."