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Health and Welfare Committee Hears of Autism
Efforts
Rising Incident Rates Spark Need for More Services
HARRISBURG -- Clinical
experts, officials and families told Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee
that the incidence rate for autism among Pennsylvania’s children is rising and
that the Commonwealth must step up its efforts to help those young people.
Today’s public hearing in Harrisburg was intended to
update the committee as part of “Autism Awareness Month,” according to Committee
Chairman Senator Hal Mowery.
“Since April has been designated as Autism Awareness
Month, this is an appropriate time to for the committee to hear about what has
been discovered through extensive research and education that can help those
with autism learn useful life skills and lead a life of independence,” Chairman
Mowery said.
Senator Robert C. Wonderling, a member of the
Legislative Autism Caucus, said the hearing was extremely informative and he
urged the experts and family members who testified to stay active as the
Commonwealth develops policies regarding autism.
“We need to move at an appropriate pace, with
appropriate dollars and with an appropriate level of government,” Senator
Wonderling said.
Department of Public Welfare Secretary Estelle
Richman told the Committee that a Pennsylvania Autism Task Force was formed last
year and is preparing a comprehensive report on the services currently available
in the Commonwealth and recommendations for improvements, particularly in public
awareness and education.
“Our expectation is that the final report will help
us in identifying where gaps in service delivery exists and will steer us toward
our ultimate goal of developing a system that is better prepared and equipped to
meet the needs of people living with autism,” Secretary Richman said.
Julie Clipp, a mother of two autistic children and
resident of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, said Pennsylvania’s safety net for
families of autistic children has some strong and some weak points. One major
problem, she said, is the hold-up by the Administration of state funding for
Approved Private Schools (APS), some of which provide the specialized education
that autistic children need.
“There are several good residential schools in
Pennsylvania,” said Clipp, a member of the Autism Society of America.
“Unfortunately, many Approved Private Schools will not take Pennsylvania
students into their residential programs because the state has not fully
reimbursed the schools the money owed them.”
Senator Wonderling said he also was disappointed by
the hold up of state funding and the fact that event those APS that had received
“clean” audits were receiving only half of the money owed to them. “If an APS
gets a clean bill of health on its audit, it should get its full reimbursement.”
Dr. Nancy Minchew, a neurologist with the University
of Pittsburgh Health System and noted autism expert, said the incidence rate for
autism in Pennsylvania has grown from 2 of 10,000 children 15 years ago to 67 of
10,000 children today.
“It is clear there has been a significant increase
in cases beginning 15 years ago,” Dr. Minchew said. “We don’t know what caused
it, but there has been an increase.”
Dr. Minchew said the cost of care is about $50,000
per person annually and that means the $1 billion being spent by the state today
could rise to $4 billion by the year 2060.
Dr. David Mandell, Assistant Professor, Center for
Mental Health Policy and Service Research, Department of Psychology, University
of Pennsylvania, said most communities aren’t prepared to meet the needs of
autistic individuals.
“These needs include appropriate assessment and
diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, educational and social supports, housing
and vocational supports for adults, and ancillary services like respite care and
sibling counseling for these families that experience a tremendous amount of
stress and strain,” Dr. Mandell said.
Dr. Joanne Gillis-Donovan, president and CEO of
Melmark, which operates an APS in Pennsylvania, said a coordinated approach was
needed to provide the care and assistance that autistic individuals need.
“We need a child-adult-family approach,” she said.
“We need an ‘end point’ in our planning. That end point should be focused on an
increasingly independent lifestyle in their families and in their communities.”
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Wonderling
Audio
Hearing Photo
Senator Rob Wonderling (R-24), left, and Senator Hal Mowery
(R-31), chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, right,
listen to testimony during an April 14
hearing on services and treatments for persons with autism.
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