Feb 8, 2007 11:36 pm US/Mountain
Colorado Autism Advocates Want More Services
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The largest study yet on autism shows the disorder is more common than first thought. New data collected by the Centers For Disease Control from 14 states found one in 150 American children has the disorder.
In Colorado, the rate is one out of every 169 kids. The new numbers mean an additional 50,000 children and young adults have autism and related disorders than previously thought.
Advocates are now working to get more services for autistic children.
A senate bill that is being considered at the state capitol would make it easier for the youngest patients to get help.
Raising a child with autism isn't easy.
"My child has severe self injurious behaviors," said Betty Lehman. "He also has very severe gastrointestinal problems."
When Lehman found out her son Eli had autism 16 years ago, she said she felt alone.
"Getting treatment is very difficult," she said. "The hospital systems don't know much about autism. They're afraid of our children."
She told CBS4 she's hoping the new CDC study will change that by showing one in every 150 kids has the disease. As the director of the Autism Society of Colorado, she says the organization receives about 2000 pleas for help every year.
But advocates say there aren't enough services to help those people. One of the prime investigators from the CDC study said the key is providing the early intervention services that are so needed.
A proposed state law would do that by streamlining public and private financing for early intervention programs. Supporters say it would greatly improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities like autism.
"In Colorado, we discovered nearly 30 percent of those children by the time of their third birthday no longer need any more services and don't even qualify for special education," said Dr. Corry Robinson
Beyond that, advocates say researchers need to find out what causes autism.
The head of disease control at the state's health department, Dr. Lisa Miller, told CBS4 Colorado will help the CDC find an answer.
"We will participate in a study that will look at risk factors, which is a different study, and we plan to start that later this spring," Dr. Miller said.
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