LANSING – The Michigan House today passed legislation introduced by State Representative Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee) to provide Michigan residents with a convenient way to voluntarily contribute to a fund that promotes researching the causes and treatment of autism. The plan, which was passed by the House on World Autism Awareness Day, now heads to the Senate.
"While researchers have made great strides in recent years, much more needs to be done to understand the causes of autism, and determine what treatments work best," Angerer said. "This new checkoff option will give our residents the chance to contribute to a great cause and help advance autism research."
Angerer's plan will create the Autism Research Fund to support research into effective treatments of autism. Checkoff boxes, which are commonly used on income tax forms, allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their tax return to the fund. Michigan currently has income tax checkoffs for the Children's Trust Fund, the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program and the Military Family Relief Fund.
Autism, which refers to the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders, is characterized by difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviors. The impact ranges from mild to disabling. Autism affects one in 150 children, and the Autism Society of America estimates that the prevalence of autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade. Between 2001 and 2006, the number of children in Michigan public schools diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder increased by more than 100 percent, according to the Autism Society of Michigan.
This plan is part of Angerer's on-going effort to increase autism awareness. She also is the lead sponsor of a plan to require health insurance companies to end their arbitrary exclusion of treatment for autism. Angerer also has created an online petition for residents who would like to show their support for her plan to require health care companies to provide coverage for autism treatments. Residents who would like to sign the petition can visit www.house.mi.gov/kangerer, and click on the autism petition graphic on the left of the page.
"Early treatment for autism is critical for a child with the disorder to have the chance to reach his or her full potential," Angerer said. "We need to support the increasing number of Michigan families who are coping with the disease in order to help their children lead full and happy lives. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to pass both of these plans swiftly."