Government Officials Need to Respond to Rising Autism Rates

I continued my email campaign to government officials requesting a response to the new CDC report of the rising autism rates in America. Their previous report stated 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism. That shocked us, but the newest rates, 1 in 110 not only shocked us but also scared us. We want answers, not only to how they feel about it, but also what they intend to do about it.

Last time I sent out emails, it was to Governors and Senators. This time, I only emailed Senators. I will get back to Governors when I have emailed all of the U.S. Senators. I also intend to email Congressmen and all other government officials until I am satisfied that they are listening and reacting.

If you want to see a copy of the email I am sending, you can read it on my original post. You can also see who I sent my first round of emails to. Here is a list of the Senators I just emailed and am awaiting responses:

Baucus, Max - (D - MT)
Bayh, Evan - (D - IN)
Begich, Mark - (D - AK)
Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO)
Bennett, Robert F. - (R - UT)
Bingaman, Jeff - (D - NM)
Bond, Christopher S. - (R - MO)
Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH)
Brownback, Sam - (R - KS)
Bunning, Jim - (R - KY)
Burris, Roland W. - (D - IL)

Jon Gilbert, with Same Child, Different Day, has requested to join me in my cause and I will report on his progress as he updates me. If you would like to use my email letter to request information from your government representatives, feel free to do so. I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated on any responses you receive so that I can write about them on my site.

This is an extremely important issue. It deserves a response from our elected officials. We may not be big contributors to their campaigns, but we are American citizens and we do elect them to serve us. If they can not respond to our requests for action, then we will find someone to elect in their place next time we are voting. Our children deserve their help now and in the future. The CDC acknowledges the rising autism rates as a major health concern in the U.S. With so many children being diagnosed with autism now, what will happen when they are adults? Will there be a system in place to assure their proper care? Will they be lost in a system that doesn’t understand them?

We also need our children to receive more help now. If they can’t provide the help and support we need for our children now, I don’t see how they can help them when they are adults. Action is needed now. It is time that empty promises are replaced with practical solutions. I will not stop making my voice heard. I will not stop calling for our elected officials to acknowledge the autism community and start helping us. I am a mom and I can roar.

Reaching Out to the Government to Help Our Children

I do a lot of writing about what the government isn't doing to help our children. Now that the CDC has officially recognized autism as a major health concern, 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism, I thought it was time to reach out to our government and ask them directly for help.

I have sent out my first round of emails to different government officials. Each one said the same thing and asked the same questions. Because it is so close to Christmas, I don't expect a response from anyone immediately. Hopefully, after the holidays, someone will reply. I will continue sending out my emails each day until I have contacted everyone in a position to help.



Here is a copy of the email I sent and the list of who I have sent it out to today:


Thank you for taking time to read my email request for information. I am the owner and administrator of AutismLearningFelt, and online publication for parents raising a child with autism. My readers and I would like to know what you are doing to help us.

I have a few questions that I would like to ask you and hope you will respond. Your answers will be published on my website within a day or two of your response. Thank you again for your time.

1. When the CDC announced the new autism rates, 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism, what were your first thoughts?

2. Services for children with autism are limited and difficult to receive. Most are limited to speech, occupational and speech therapy, yet hardly ever enough of these services to make a big impact for our children. Services like ABA and Floortime therapy are usually not available for our children unless we, the parents, pay for them ourselves. Children that receive at least 20 to 25 hours a week of specialized therapy make more progress than those that do not. What do you intend to do to make government paid specialized therapy services available for our children?

3. Early Intervention is extremely important. Do you have any plans for improving the identification and diagnosis of autism and an earlier age?

4. Autism families need a voice within the government. There are several great organizations that lobby and advocate for us, but we need government officials to take up our cause. Do you have any plans to stand up as a voice for the autism community and bring about more government involvement in addressing the concerns of families raising a child with autism and bringing about practical help for us?

5. Finally, have you considered the time when our children are adults and will require even more help? As parents, we like to think that we will always be here for our children. As our children get older, we realize that soon they will be adults and may become dependent on the government for their care. Do you have any plans to address this issue?

Governor Bob Riley, Alabama
Governor Charlie Crist, FL
Gov. Bev Perdue, NC
Gov. David A. Patterson, NY
Gov. Chris Gregoire, WA
Gov. Martin O’Malley

Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)
Barrasso, John - (R - WY)
Hagan, Kay R. - (D - NC)
Burr, Richard - (R - NC)
Boxer, Barbara - (D - CA)