LANSING – House Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) on Sunday joined thousands of supporters, children with autism, and their families for "Walk Now for Autism Speaks," an event held at the Palace of Auburn Hills to raise money for autism research.
"With the number of Michigan families coping with autism on the rise, we need to focus on our research and awareness efforts more than ever," said Angerer, who addressed the crowd of walkers and supporters at the event. "Autism affects nearly 14,000 children in Michigan – many of whom are suffering because they can't receive the health care they need. We must come together to ensure that kids with autism receive the treatments that will help them reach their full potential."
A long-time advocate for autism care and research, Angerer has championed legislation requiring health insurance companies to cover treatment for the disorder. The House of Representatives passed the bill in June, and it currently awaits action in the Senate. The House also passed Angerer's bill creating the Autism Research Fund to analyze the causes of and treatments for the disorder.
Autism Speaks, a national nonprofit autism advocacy group, organizes Walk Now for Autism Speaks, the nation's largest grassroots autism walk program. The event generates important funding for autism research and raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder.
A study published last week in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal Pediatrics estimates the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder at one in 91 American children, and one in 58 boys.
"With such an alarming rise in the number of children struggling with autism, it is unacceptable for insurance companies to continue denying access to medically-proven treatments," Angerer said. "It's time to end this discrimination and unlock the future for our children."