NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002

TWO BILLS TO HELP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
PASS HOUSE AND SENATE

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Two bills introduced by State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) to assist children with autism and their families have passed both the Illinois Senate and the House of Representatives and await the Governor’s signature.

Senate Bill 51 provides that children with autism spectrum disorders may be assessed for eligibility for services without regard to whether they are also diagnosed with mental retardation. Currently, many families of children with autism who apply for state help to keep their children at home are told that the child does not qualify for services. Very often this is because children with autism score above 70 on an IQ test, which is the threshold for determining mental retardation. However, children with autism may be severely disabled without also having severe intellectual disability.

“It is our hope that this bill will enable more families to get state aid to provide the supports that their loved ones need to live at home and avoid institutionalization,” said Christopher Kennedy, Legislative Director of the Autism Society of Illinois.

Senate Bill 79 provides a list of factors to be considered in the development of an individualized education program, or IEP, for a student with autism. The number of children diagnosed with autism and served in public schools in Illinois has doubled in the last five years, and autism is the most expensive disability category for school districts and the fastest-growing source of due-process disputes. The goal of SB 79 is to encourage better planning for educational interventions and to guide the IEP team in this often-confusing disorder.

Some of the needs of children with autism include interventions to address behavioral difficulties resulting from autism spectrum disorder and the needs resulting from the children's unusual responses to sensory input such as light or noise. “This bill should foster more informed and focused planning without requiring any additional funding or paperwork burden for schools,” said Mr. Kennedy.

“Children with autism and their families face many challenges. In Illinois, through bills like these, we are trying to smooth the way for them to receive the educational and therapeutic services they need to help these children achieve their full potential,” said Senator Garrett.