Hillary Clinton Stumps for Autism - What's Your Take?
I think it's time we had a government and a president who recognized the seriousness of autism and addressed it head-on," Clinton said.... She called the disorder a national health crisis, saying it costs the nation at least $35 billion each year.If Clinton can be taken at her word, she certainly seems to have the needs of people with autism and their families in mind. Of course, she's not the only Democratic candidate interested in reaching what is becoming a significant voting bloc - and blogger Kristina Chew of AutismVox describes John Edwards' and Barrack Obama's somewhat less specific plans for improving services.Clinton outlined her years helping children with autism, including co-sponsoring legislation called the Combating Autism Act in 2006, and earlier this year the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act. She criticized President Bush for refusing to fully fund such efforts.
If she's elected, Clinton said she would also take other autism initiatives including:
Lee Grossman, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, said the investment America makes in early identification, services and support "will create opportunities for these individuals to contribute meaningfully in our society — as is their right."
- Expanding research to identify the causes of autism, including potential environmental reasons.
- Improving education and early detection and intervention, including creating a task force to investigate autism treatments and services.
- Training for teachers to instruct children with autism.
"Senator Clinton's plan is a very important step in that direction," Grossman said in a statement provided by Clinton's campaign.
Clinton used the opportunity to talk about health care. She said families dealing with conditions such as autism find that "often times insurance is so expensive you can't afford it, or the insurance doesn't cover the very thing you need it for."
The universal health care plan she's proposed would help all families, including those dealing with autism, to afford quality health care — as good as what members of Congress are getting, she said.
"Parents will no longer be burdened by unmanageable premiums just because their children have autism," Clinton said.
So... what's your take on Clinton's plan for autism? Would you consider casting a vote based on her stated concern for folks coping with autism? What - if anything - have you heard from other candidates that might steer you in their direction? Share your thoughts!
Comments
yes i would vote for her for that an among other things. as a father, how can i not? i have been blessed thus far not to have encountered those problems, but i feel awfully bad for those that have them and will continue to have them. the ways things are these days even with 2 working parents it is hard to find suitable healthcare for your family. i thought the previous healthcare bill was a good one even though it was vetoed. the middle class families are suffering because we’re stuck in the middle. you make too much for public assistance but you dont make enough to get regular healthcare. which pretty much leaves you hanging in the wind. parents of children with autism i imagine have it 10 times worse because of the added medical attention the child needs. so if Mrs. Clinton can get something that great going then she have my vote. she may not can save all families but saving 2 or 3 is a good start.
It seems that once again Hillary got on the band wagon a little late. Where was she when Senator Dodd introduced the Bill to fund Autism research over a year ago? And I still can’t figure out what her health plan really does. She does talk a good game though, although it is hard to follow since she changes her ideas every day or so. She doesn’t have the follow through and experience of the other candidates.
Uhm.
You left out the bit about preventing, curing, stamping out entirely autistic people, which is what Mrs Clinton wants to do. We don’t deserve to exist in her Aryan America.
Obama has my vote. I met him in ‘04. He had never HEARD of autistic adults, and here I was dripping wet, looking all of 14, in pigtails, basically begging him to consider our perspective and RIGHT to EXIST…the RIGHT to human DIVERSITY.
There’s a candidate who LISTENS. And unlike the others, he doesn’t treat autistic people as lesser beings–no hysterical language about epidemic, mystery, plague….
No eugenicist words, in short. Mrs Clinton has proven time and again that’s exactly what she is.
It certainly would not influence my voting decision. What about funding for assistance for autistic adults? Why only promote “stamping out autism”? Why not promote education about autism so we can better understand individuals with autism? Why only keep the training to teachers? Why not expand that to police and security, persons in the medical community (nurses, emts, and docs that don’t normally work w/ autistics), and other workers in the community. No, this whole concentration on therapy to normalize the kids so they can contribute to society is off-putting for me and quite frankly makes me nervous.
I followed the battle that Senator Rick Santorium and Senator Chris Dodd waged against the Republicans to pass the Combating Autism Act last year. I do not remember Hillary Clinton being involved one bit.
I am in Iowa, Council Bluffs, and I met with Dodd last summer and thanked him for his work on the Combating Autism Act. I heard him speak before that time daily on MSNBC about autism. He knows the issues well. He is known as the “Children’s Senator” and its a title well deserved. He has been a champion for children in America during his 5 terms in the Senate, even before he had children of his own. I have an autistic son and my family has been living with his condition since he was diagnosed at age 2. He is now 9 years old. It takes an effort.
I am going to support Chris Dodd at the caucuses on January 3rd. He was the first senator to take on the fight against autism, before he ever thought about running for president. He is experienced, he knows the issues and his is a “uniter”. Senator Clinton seems to be getting on the autism bandwagon late. In fact, all of the other candidates I have heard speak have barely mentioned autism. When they did, their information seemed to be inaccurate. Clinton has hit a bump in her campaign. Her debate performances haven’t been the best. Supposedly her numbers are slipping. I feel like she might be making autism a political football. If it is the crisis she says it is then why did she wait until caucus time in Iowa to address autism. This is the first time I have ever heard here speak on the issue, unlike Senator Dodd.
Dan, I live in CB as well and have never heard of this guy. Thanks for sharing – I belong to a great support group for parents of asd kiddos, holler back if you’d like to know where/when we meet. You’d certainly be welcome!
Angie,
Thanks for sharing about the support group. I would love to check it out. The media has done a poor job discussing the candidates. Edwards, Clinton and Obama are getting all the coverage. Chris Dodd has more experience than those candidates combined. I just found out today that Clinton was a co-sponsor of the Combating Autism Act. Chris Dodd, however, did all of the heavy lifting. As a 5 term Democratic Senator he has often found common ground with Republicans to get work done in Washington. Convincing Republican Rick Santorum to co-sponsor the CAA is just one example of this. Dodd also sponsored the Family and Medical Leave act which has helped millions of American families.
Thanks Angie. I would love to check out your group. The media needs to do a better job covering Chris Dodd. He has a big organization in Iowa with three staffers in Council Bluffs. The media has been focusing on Clinton, Obama and Edwards and is missing the boat on Dodd, who has more experience the Edwards, Clinton and Obama, combined. I just learned that Clinton was one of the sponsors of the Combating Autism Act but Dodd did all of the heavy lifting, working with Republican Santorum to get the Act passed.
Angie, you can call me about your group. I am in the Council Bluffs phone book.
Being from Australia I’m not up to date with this, but at least the politicians are talking about autism!!
Awareness has to start somewhere!
NO way … she has not even began to talk about funding treatment for autism … and talking about helping families with autism in very real and practical ways … Plenty of research is going on … but no treatment. She is just once again catering to the votes of big pharmaceutical companies when we all know they are the cause.
Dan – shoot me an email at imadesphousewife@yahoo.com – I’ll be happy to send you the contact info. I also belong to a fantastic online support group as well, if you’d be interested in that. Thanks!
Hillary Clinton’s supposed concern for autism is as phony as a three-dollar bill. This week she’s pandering to the biomed and behaviorist factions, whereas earlier she was kissing up to Autism Speaks and their autism prevention agenda (i.e. kill off all autistic babies through prenatal testing and abortion).
Here’s a link to a YouTube in which Hillary’s autism prevention plans are clearly shown in her own words:
Hillary Clinton Autism Video
Instead of eugenics, let’s have some respect for diversity and for the civil rights of autistic Americans.
Obama ‘08
This is just the primary! I’m curious whether this “hot-button issue” will get anything going on the Republican side. It might come down to voting for whoever is the Democrat because their the only ones who are addressing the issue at all.
I support Hilary Clinton. I live in the United Kingdom and have a child with autism. People are ready to cash in on Autism and there is a lack of real understanding and resources to help parents, carers and those disabled by autism. We want change in the right direction!
Just one more sidenote. Senator Dodd actually WROTE the Combating Autism Act for Congress. He’s the real authority, but will work with others to find common ground to get it done.
As much as I love my son, I would never base my vote on this or any other promise someone made. We need things done nationally/globally to learn what is causing autism but the REAL work is done with each community, each family!
Edwards has updated/increased his Autism plan– it really looks better than Clinton’s. I’m still undecided– sure would be nice to see them talk about it. Are they passionate, or just giving lip service to voting families with Autism?