Oregon's 2005 Request for
State Autism Proclamation
February 28, 2005
Honorable Governor of Oregon
160 State Capitol
900 Court Street
Salem, Oregon 97301-4047
Dear Honorable Ted Kulongoski:
The incidents of autism continue to soar at an alarming rate. It is
estimated that more than 1.5 million Americans live with some form of
autism, including more than 100,000 children served under the Individual
Disability Education Act (IDEA.). Data collected for the Department of
Education indicate that the number of children ages 6 through 21 diagnosed
with autism served under the IDEA has increased by more than 500 percent in
the last decade. At one point autism was affecting one out of 10,000.
However, recent research indicates that autism is affecting one out of every
160! In some parts of the country autism is affecting as many as one in 150.
In the 2003 school year, Oregon's numbers rose to 4,389. That is a 583%
cumulative growth rate of autism from 1992 to 2003 with a 22% average annual
growth rate for ASD's from 1992 to 2003.
The increase in ASD's prevalence is systemic across the entire United States
and should be an urgent public health concern. The majority of the increase
is attributed to young children and does not take in to consideration those
placed in private, home, residential or other placements. Nor does it take
in count or recognize the adult population. The increasing prevalence time
trend provides additional evidence that frequency is, and has been,
increasing in the United States. The frequency of autism spectrum disorders
now surpasses that of all types of cancer combined.
As parents of children with autism and one of us married to a man with
Asperger Syndrome, part of the higher functioning end of Autism, I find the
statements by professionals in our community true as well as sobering.
We are writing to ask you to sponsor an Oregon Senate Resolution proclaiming
that our state honors April 27th, 2005 as Autism Awareness Day and April as
Autism Awareness month. Our hope is to have each state recognize April 27th
as Autism Day and Autism Awareness month.
During the month of April the autism community around the United States will
be doing several activities to increase awareness of autism. Last year over
45 states joined and made April Autism Awareness month. This year we want to
continue to see the Great State of Oregon on the list of the States
participating.
Autism is not a curable disorder. However recent studies are showing that
early intervention can reclaim children with autism, helping them to enjoy a
productive and independent life. But reclaiming comes at a large price.
Many families like ours are paying between $40,000.00 - $70,000.00 a year
for services for their children. Insurance companies or the government is
not covering the money parents are spending. As parents we will do anything
to see our children reclaimed from this terrible disorder.
Then there is the other end of autism spectrum disorders, High Functioning
Autism or folks with Asperger Syndrome. A rare group of folks who sometimes
have the ability to pass for normal but are still affected with autism
traits. This community does not see themselves as broken or in need of a
fix, they just want to be understood and accepted for who they are as part
of the human race whose brains are just wired differently through what some
say is evolution or a separate culture. These are our best and brightest of
mankind. They are in every section of our life, an emerging “new” culture.
Autism is every where now a days.
We need “YOUR” help! We need to raise awareness about autism. We need to do
this “together” as a State.
We need to have the GREAT State of Oregon stand behind us for another year
and give this disability the attention it deserves. If we unite our efforts
we will be able to see the reverse in numbers, a unity and support from
parents, partners, spouses and those “with.” Most of all we will begin the
long journey TOGETHER in placing the much needed support systems in place
for a disability that many consider an epidemic, depending on where your
loved ones are on the spectrum.
Please declare April 27, 2005 as Autism Awareness Day and April as Autism
Awareness Month. We need your help.
We are enclosing bumper stickers for your staff. Oregon families need to
know our Legislators and politicians are behind “us” in this effort.
It takes only one person to lead …one person to assist with change …one
person to send a message of unity and awareness for our children and adults.
Each one of us can make a difference. “The Power of One”.
Can we count of the GREAT State of Oregon to carry on this tradition for
another year? Please feel free to call on us for any further information or
stats.
Respectively submitted,
Linda Newland & Laurie
Stuebing
Unlocking Autism Representatives from the Great State of Oregon
www.unlockingautism.org/
22980 Donna Lane
Bend, OR 97701
541-420-2870
Enc: bumper stickers, brochures; 2003 Oregon Proclamation
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"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical.
Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin."
~ Jerry Newport