So what do you do if your state passes autism legislation (as my state, New Jersey, did in September of 2007) and then it gets stalled by budget cuts—-when the bill gets passed but there’s no funding as it’s an austere buget year” ? In Florida, the Window of Opportunity Act was passed by the Senate last week—and today’s Palm Beach Post reports on the hurdles it now faces in the House:
State House leaders acknowledged Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to have Medicaid and Healthy Kids cover all Florida children with autism. But they still oppose the …read more

Below is the press release about the new autism legislation that New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez unveiled this morning in Weehawken, in Hudson County in northern New Jersey. The legislation has three parts: The creation of “autism navigators” to help families “navigate” their way through services, treatment options, and much more; the development and implementation of autism training for first responders (police, fire departments, emergency medical technicians and other volunteers); the creation of an HUD Task Force to address the “serious lack of sufficient housing” for autistic adults. The legislation is specifically about services and community supports.
The need for …read more

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey will be announcing a new initiative for families dealing with autism spectrum disorders on Monday, April 28th, at 11am in Louisa Park in Weehawken, New Jersey. The legislation will combine guidance for families seeking autism spectrum disorder services and care, greater public awareness of autism spectrum disorders and support for adults with autism. New Jersey has the highest prevalence rate of autism in the nation (1 in 94). I was was hoping to be in Weehawken which is not far from where I teach at Saint Peter’s College (it’s the Senator’s alma mater) but …read more

Ever felt like you’ve been caught between a rock and a really hard place? And in particular (if you are a parent like me) trying to arrange and rearrange your finances to provide therapies for your autistic child?
Parents of autistic children in Wisconsin like Cindy Brimacombe have found themselves in such a situation in the wake of the state’s Legislature leaving bills that would have affected how services for autistic children are funded and delivered “by the wayside,” as the March 16th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Republicans and Democrats both had differing plans to help autistic children but were unable …read more

The New Jersey State Senate narrowly approved legislation on Monday that would make the state the third in the nation to grant employees the right to take paid leave to take care of a newborn or sick relative. The bills now goes to the Assembly and is expected to be approved on March 13; Governor Jon S. Corzine has said that he will sign the bill. From the New York Times:
The measure would be financed by employee payroll deductions that would cost every worker in New Jersey a maximum of 64 cents a week, or $33 a year. Those taking …read more

Education and advocacy. Education and advocacy and legislation, and how to make these happen in order to make a real and practical impact on the lives of autistic persons and of their families in New Jersey, and how COSAC—–the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community—might best achieve this: This was what was talked about at the COSAC Strategic Planning retreat that I was fortunate to be present at for most of Saturday. A lot of the conversation was about the needs of autistic adults and especially about housing, and about how COSAC might best focus …read more

The Wisconsin Senate has passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover autism, but the bill still has to pass the state’s Assembly. And in Oklahoma, families with autistic children are calling on the state Senate to pass “Nick’s Law, which would require health insurance policies cover diagnosis, treatment and therapy for autism spectrum disorders.
Here in my own state of New Jersey, the state Assembly’s Health and Senior Services Committee has released six new autism bills on Monday; last September, New Jersey Governor Jon seph S. Corzine signed a package of seven bills relating to autism; go here for details …read more

Last September, New Jersey Governor Joseph Corzine signed a package of seven bills relating to autism; go here for details about the bills. Next Monday, the New Jersey State Legislature will consider a second round of autism bills, again sponsored by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, D-Camden. Under the new legislation, New Jerseyans with autism would have their own government advocate, insurance coverage for promising treatments, help with living arrangements, and a student peer program for students in grades 7-12 to interact with autistic students. Today’s Bergen Record provides specifics—-am glad to be here and home in Jersey. …read more