Drew Ferguson: “I am honored to be here in support of H. Con. Res. 91, following the 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Day. This resolution…”

“I am honored to be here in support of H. Con. Res. 91, following the 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Day. This resolution calls attention to one of the major public health issues of our time--the developmental disorder called autism. Autism has affected the lives of an estimated 400,000 children--one in five hundred--and altered their ability to interact and communicate with family and loved ones. Despite the tremendous impact on families, we still lack adequate information on this condition. In fact, we have no scientific records to indicate exactly how many children have autism, or the degree to which they are affected. Information on the cause and treatment of autism is also severely limited. Despite the fact that autism is one of the most common developmental disorders, many professionals in the medical and education fields are still unaware of the disorder. Awareness is the key to this important issue. Specialists do know that early intervention services can dramatically improve a child's long-term prospects, if autism is detected at an early age. In many cases, early intervention can determine if a child is able to speak. While the cost of educating a child with autism is expensive, no price tag can be placed on a child's future. H. Con. Res. 91 is a step in the right direction because it supports greater research and improved treatment of autism.”