April 15, 2016
By: Tom Novotny, Autism Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (Science and Medicine); and Aaron Bishop, Commissioner, Administration on Disabilities, Administration for Community Living
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released data from its Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network indicating that 1 in 68 school-aged children are on the autism spectrum. In announcing these data, which are unchanged from 2014, Dr. Stuart K. Shapira, chief medical officer for CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, noted the importance of services and supports for these children now and as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.We could not agree more.
Children with autism, like people with all types of disabilities, need opportunities to grow and gain independence. And from an early age, they should be involved in planning for their own transitions to adulthood.
They need to learn the skills that will enable them to fully participate in their communities, which include earning competitive wages while working alongside people without disabilities. We also must take action to structure our communities and workplaces to embrace their inclusion and benefit from their strengths.
We must ensure that services are available to support all children as they work their way through school, become young adults, attend college and seek employment.
READ MORE: HHS Embraces Autism Awareness and Acceptance
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