Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

The Senate finally passed a bill unanimously on December 7th for the Combating Autism Act. This is big news to me, as my 4 year old has Autism. This bill authorizes almost $1 Billion dollars for research and early intervention. Besides the research itself, early intervention is so important.

Luckily my degree is in Psychology, so I saw all the signs in my son when he was very young. He attends an Early Intervention program 4 days a week with other children like him and is instructed by a teacher who specializing in Special Education with knowledge of Autism. I cannot begin to tell you the difference it has made. The program concentrates on social skills, coping skills and education. My son has a zest for learning that could not have possibly been nurtured in the normal preschool setting.

The Combating Autism Act is so important because 1 in 500 children are diagnosed with a form of Autism. Those are very depressing numbers. The Autism spectrum can be confusing to some, as there is Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS, Asperger’s Disorder and Rett’s Disorder. My son has Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS. No one knows why or how the illness comes about, which is why funding for research is so important.

Do you know the signs of Autism? Visit Autism Speaks today and get involved.