How would I vote on Reathorization of Combating Autism Act?

I would vote yes for the Reauthorization of Combating Autism Act for several reasons. First, according to the latest statistics from the Centers of Disease Control, one in eighty-eight children develops autism. Boys are five more times likely to develop autism than girls ("Autism and Spectrum", 2012). These statistics are staggering and affect many people in our country; therefore, money needs to be contributed to help finding the cause and any possible cure or treatment. Because the NIH is involved in the Reathorization of Combating Autism Act, maybe medications will be discovered to help with they symptoms of this disorder. Medical management is part of this disorder and medical treatments could be used to help the disorder. If medical advances are made in regards to autism, then possible prevention can occur when the baby is in vitro or in a child's early development.

Nursing deals with autism in many settings especially the school setting. Nurses need to be educated about this disorder in order to educate parents and teachers about the disorder. Nurses need to be educated about autism in order to understand the medications that are admininstered in the school setting.

Next, autism has many effects families who are affected by this disorder. Autism costs a family over $3.2 million to take care of one child with autism. There are several reasons why the cost is high. First, there are expenses related to medical treatments such as doctor visits, medication costs, and behavioral therapies. Next there are non-medical costs such as special camps, education, and child care for children affected by this disorder. Autism affects the autistic children's parents productivity at work because many have to work less hours (Datz, T., 2006). Only one in six autistic children is able to develop into a well adjusted adult. Many autistic adults must live with their parents or in a special group setting ("Autism", 2012).

Autism and spectrum disorders: data and statistics. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.

Datz, T. (2006, April 25). Autism has high costs to society. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2006-releases/press04252006.html

Autism. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Autism.html