It’s a shame that the law was not written to include alldisabled who need support services in the community.

Club 166, I wholeheartedly agree. It is a shame that the bill did not include the widest possible group of individuals. My organization, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (www.autisticadvocacy.org), is interested in advocating for the entirety of the autism spectrum, not just the Asperger’s or High-Functioning part. With that in mind, I have made clear in my conversations with legislators that further legislative action is needed. It would be my hope that extensive effort is put into support services for individuals at all points on the autism spectrum, with the ultimate goal of independent living, self-advocacy skills and self-determination for all. That is our goal and I want to make clear that we share a common vision of the future that can be.

I can assure you, *noone* wants to take over the obligations of anyone else. You may not realize that there’s a sub-culture of autistic people – and we’re very concerned for each others welfare. I go to parent meetings all the time; the only thing I get out of it – and the only thing I want – is the joy of helping bring people together through understanding. Even with “good communication skills”, a person on the spectrum still has the thought patterns of an autistic person. Of course, every one’s different. All people are. But those of us who speak in language can provide translation clues for those who only speak a sensory language.

Bill A4057 establishes a New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force.

Bill S2558 requires candidates for teaching certificates and current teachers to receive instruction in autism awareness and methods of teaching students with autism.

All bill pertaining to autism in the 2006-2007 Legislative session can be found here.

When a law is written, it is usually interpreted to mean exactly what it says (especially when money is involved). Therefore this law would exclude Kristina’s Charlie, as well as my Buddy Boy, as neither carries a diagnosis of “Asperger’s Syndrome”.

It’s a shame that the law was not written to include alldisabled who need support services in the community.

That’s great.

And who speaks for those on the autism spectrum who can not speak at all? Surely not people with communication skills such as demonstrated by Ari Ne’eman. Surely he is not suggesting that parents of autistic children, whether they are still children or adults, should transfer their legal and moral obligations to speak on behalf of their children, who can not communicate for themselves, to someone who has such advanced communication skills. It seems strange that Ari Ne’emen would want to take back his right to speak for himself and then assert a right to speak on behalf of someone who has fundamentally different realities.