Sharan DePalma | Jan 2, 2007

I understand there is great controversy surrounding the combating autism act. This funding has been needed for decades and we finally have the opportunity to make a difference. For those of you who say "I don't want to change my child", or "I don't mind autism"; you are fortunate to feel that way. Sleepless nights and cleaning up vomit daily gives me a different view. I believe that it's my job as a parent to ensure my child's health and independence to the best of my ability. If research can give us some answers and (dare I say it?) proven treatments for our children, then all would be right in my world. Some believe that research will try to "cure" autistic individuals. Well, not only is this my hope, but my dream as well. Let's hope that the research can figure out why a majority of newly diagnosed children have mothers with rh negative blood types. Let's see if we can correlate behaviors and symptoms with pesticides, food additives, antibiotics and vaccines. I am hanging my hat on this research with the hopes that one day people will say, "remember that autism epidemic?" and the response would be, "autism? what's that?"

Carmine DePalma | Jan 4, 2007

I hope the research funding will help us understand more about the genetic link to autism; I would also like to see more research regarding the environmental influences on gene mutations. Preservatives, pollution, thimerasol, and a myriad of toxins that we're exposed to may play a role in autism. We just don't know what we don't know.

Tibi Guzman | Jan 10, 2007

Yes, research is important to understand why and how to prevent and cure Autism and hopefully we will have some answers in our life time. However, currently we are faced with the lack of educational and programmatic resources to act effectively in assuring our children receive the best available services. We know that there exist a variety of treatment modalities and teaching styles that are presenting promising results to provide relief of the obstacles preventing individuals with autism spectrum disorder to function more independently and participate in the community. The programs as we know them are very expensive to operate, given the high staffing ratios required to run these programs, the extensive training and ongoing support, need for staff and families and most of all the ability to be flexible in changing with the changing needs of the individuals with autism spectrum disorders. All this require resources that are not available in all communities and are in the most part not easily acquired.

It is my hope that more dollars will funnel to local communities to address the varied educational and programmatic needs of our children faced with these disorders and to pave the way for local agencies like Westchester Arc to engage in these opportunities.

Adnil | Mar 18, 2007

I am confused about the constant underlying belief that as human we are so proud of ourselves because of our evolving brains, we begin to think that we not only CAN find cures for absolutely every aspect of "being" we don't like. As an educator I have been teaching children diagnosed with ASD for over 10 years. I think back to when the novel term and concept of "Autism" intruiged me. I do not believe that I would have chosen a career in special education if Autism did not exsist.

Please don't misunderstand my belief in the concept of a perfectly flawed world as merely not understanding the impact, pain, and sometimes torture of such a pervasive, persistent and just plain difficult to deal with diagnosis. Not only do I have a lifetime of knowledge and experience about this disorder and the current understanding and treatment of Autism, it has reared it's ugly head in my family as well. BUT it is NOT ONLY an UGLY head. That is what makes me sad,. That is what disturbs me about concepts like purifying DNA and "cleaning up" the gene pool.

During my stay on this earth I have had the admiral pleasure of knowing, teaching, expereincing, learning and growing with a hundred or more diagnosed children. I am in their homes, in thier lives. I am proud to play a part in my students' development and progress. I admire some of the unique and never-a-dull-moment lifestyle of surrounding myself with this disorder. It is one disorder out of millions. It does well-deserve and need the attention and funding thats begin provided. I suppose we would rejoice in the elimination of Autism as a disorder. But try not to forget that it is a human condition. It is the ultimate in it's ability to produce bizarre and unimaginable abilities (i am aware that 'splinter skills' are rare.) I did not mean that as hey, let's look at the side-show abilities of Rainman. What I mean is when I look at the students that I have taught and truly REACHED over the years I am in awe of their stregths, hurdles and their own possible new found respect and admiration of themselves. I am proud of the way I am a part of their lives. I feel special because my students have always let me in, in fact using a behavior methodology combined with the typical curriculum and concepts for my student's academic age has shown me the true correct method & application of ABA as an intensive initial intervention early in life, that must systematically fade while mainstream pratices are first presented so that the student learns how to learn in a mainstream setting and how to function, cope, enjoy and live with an ability to surivive in a manner no one thought possible only 40 years ago. It's not the method that is rote & robotic, it's the teacher.