Wednesday, May 14, 2008

California Democrats Push Bills to Fight Spread of Autism

California Democrats push bills to fight spread of autism
By Aurelio Rojas
April 3, 2008

'"West Wing" series actor Gary Cole speaks Wednesday at the Capitol about his daughter's autism. Cole said he was "thrilled" with the legislative package by Democratic lawmakers to deal with the nation's fastest growing developmental disability.

Undeterred by the state's budget woes, Democratic lawmakers Wednesday unveiled eight bills to address the dramatic rise in diagnosis of children with autism.

The legislation is the result of three years of public hearings throughout the state by the Legislature's Commission on Autism, consisting of health experts, educators and families affected by the nation's fastest-growing developmental disability.

Once considered rare, autism is now more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer and pediatric AIDS combined – and affects one of every 150 children and one of every 94 boys."

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