§ 16-24.1-2 - Legislative findings. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-24.1-2

   § 16-24.1-2  Legislative findings. –It is hereby found and declared as follows:

   (a) Autism is a neurobiological, developmental disorder thatis defined by behavioral and development features.

   (b) Autism is best characterized as a spectrum of disordersthat vary in severity of symptoms, age of onset and association with otherdisorders (e.g. mental retardation, specific language delay, epilepsy) and areunique in their pattern of deficits and areas of relative strengths. Theygenerally have lifelong effects on how children learn to be social beings, tocare for themselves, and to participate in the community.

   (c) The incidence of autism has dramatically increased. In1992, one in ten thousand (10,000) children were diagnosed with "ASD", yetcurrently one in one hundred fifty (150) children have this disorder.

   (d) Children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)offer unique challenges to families, teachers and others who work with them,particularly with nonverbal and verbal communication and behavior problems.

   (e) Medical and psychological experts still do not know thecauses of "ASD", prevention of "ASD" or unified strategies dealing withchildren and adults afflicted with such disorder.

   (f) Education, both directly of children and youth, and ofparents and teachers, is currently the primary form of treatment for AutismSpectrum Disorders (ASD).

   (g) The education of children and youth with ASD is acceptedas a public responsibility. However, goals, methods and resources availablevary greatly from school system to school system, school to school, and classto class.

   (h) Education is defined as the fostering of the acquisitionof skills or knowledge- including not only academic learning, but alsosocialization, adaptive skills, language and communication, and reduction ofbehavior problems to assist the child to develop independence and socialresponsibility.

   (i) "ASD" exacts an enormous economic toll on society,including the public school system and family finances.

   (j) The Autism Society of America estimates that the lifetimecost of caring for a child with autism ranges from three million five hundredthousand dollars ($3,500,000) to five million dollars ($5,000,000), and thatthe United States is facing almost ninety billion dollars ($90,000,000,000)annually in costs for autism.