Many military families are impacted by autism. Based on current prevalence rates, as many as 12,000 children in the military families (active duty, reserve and guard) may have autism. These families are substantially affected by the financial and emotional costs of raising a child with autism.
Military life is particularly difficult for children with autism and their families. Given the frequent duty station changes and social turmoil of military service, military children with an autism spectrum disorder often face additional challenges with which their civilian counterparts do not have to contend.
A specific feature of autism is extreme difficulty with life, routine, or environmental changes of any kind. These children need a set routine, stability, and continuity of services and relationships. Military life by its nature provides few of these needs. This situation is likely to weaken the morale of the parent serving the military as well as the caretaker at home.
Military-Related Federal Bill Endorsements:
Autism Speaks has created this page on Autism Votes specially to communicate with military families in the autism community. There have been several military-related federal bills over the last few years that Autism Speaks has supported.
Autism Speaks Applauds Congress for Approval Of $8 Million For DOD Autism Research Program In FY 2010
NEW YORK, N.Y. (December 21, 2009) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, applauds Congress for passage of the FY 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations bill, H.R. 3326, which contains $8 million for the DoD Autism Research Program (DoDARP). This is the fourth consecutive year that Congress has funded the DoDARP through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), for a total of $29.9 million ($7.5 million in FY 07, $6.4 million in FY 08, $8.0 million in FY 09, and $8.0 million for FY 2010).
The DoDARP’s mission is to promote innovative research that advances the understanding of autism spectrum disorder and leads to improved outcomes. All CDMRPs involve community members to find and fund the best research to eradicate or treat diseases. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has been well represented on the DoDARP’s Integration Panel (IP) which determines the vision and investment strategy for the funding. In FY 09, Gary Goldstein, M.D. Autism Speaks board member and president of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, chaired the IP and Peter Bell, Autism Speaks Executive Vice President for Programs & Services, served as vice-chair. In addition, Shelley Hendrix, Autism Speaks Director of State Advocacy Relations, has been a member of the IP for the last three years.
“Now that the CDC has confirmed that autism affects one percent of American children, including those in military families, the need for a commitment from our legislators to fund research into the causes and cures for this disease has never been more paramount,” said Peter Bell. “We thank members of Congress for approving federal funding for autism research through the Department of Defense Autism Research Program and for giving hope to families across the country affected by autism.”
The entire DoD Appropriations bill will now go to the President to be signed into law.
VIDEO: Senator Gillibrand works to require TRICARE to cover full costs of proven-effective autism therapies to bring relief to military families struggling with the high costs of autism.
Many military families are impacted by autism. Based on current prevalence rates, as many as 12,000 children in the military families (active duty, reserve and guard) may have autism. These families are substantially affected by the financial and emotional costs of raising a child with autism.