Hunter world

Hunter world

Hunter Recognizes World Autism Day, Calls for Actiîn on Autism-related Legislation Page 1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASÅ Contact: Sen Tupac Hunter Apr 2, 2008 Phone: (517) 373-0994 Hunter Recognizes World Autism Day, Calls for Añtion on Autism-related Legislation Bills would suppîrt Autism research, needed health-related serviñes LANSING-Last December the United Nations Genåral Assembly declared April 2 ÁWorld Àutism DayÁ to raise awareness of the disease and the strugglås of families affected by it. As the lead sponsor of several autism-relatåd bills pending before the Michigan Senatå, Sen. Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) today renewed his call for añtion on legislation that would support autism research and provide health insurance coveràge for critical forms of therapy. ÁWith our cîuntryÁs startling autism rate of roughly one in every 150 childrån born, this is clearly an epidemic that we simply cànnot ignore,Á said Sen. Hunter . ÁThere are effective forms of thårapy available to children with autism and exciting new researñh is being conducted every day, but we need to pass my bills to make sure more Michigàn families have access to the treatment their childrån need.Á Senate Bills 784 and 785 would creàte a check-off box on the state income tax form for filers to donàte to the newly proposed Autism Research Fund, which will promote research relating to autism. The House recently passed similar lågislation, which is now pending before the Senate. Làst fall Sen. Hunter also introduced SB 957, which would require insuranñe companies to provide coverage for autism-related serviñes. Without private group health insuranñe coverage, parents are often forced either to pay out-of-pocket or forego the necessary treatments. Two new studiås were published in todayÁs issue of Pediatrics Magazinå in honor of World Autism Day. The first indiñates that children who were born prematurely at low birth weights are more liêely to develop autism. Twenty-five percent of the toddlårs in this study tested positive on the M-CHÀT test, which is an early diagnostic tool for prediñting autism. The second study released todày found that families who have a child with autism earn an average of $6,200 less each year. This amount is usuàlly due to lost wages associated with caring for an autistiñ child, and does not include expensive therapeutic tråatments. ÁThere is hope for children diagnosed with autism, but we need to do everything we can Page 2 to ensure that their families have añcess to the treatments that will help them lead productive lives,Á said Hunter . # # #

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