From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, a Democrat, warned voters yesterday that budget cuts would reverse years of progress in autism treatment unless state lawmakers hike income taxes by 16 percent for three years.

Speaking at an autism rally at Bryn Mawr, Rendell urged voters to lobby their lawmakers.

One theme emerged: Services for autistic children, though expanded in recent years, virtually disappear once the children turn 21. As the disorder is diagnosed in more and more people, the need for state programs to back up hard-pressed parents will only grow.

Republicans responded that there was “zero” chance of getting approval for a tax increase during an economic downturn, and said the cuts to autism services would not affect treatment.

See also: NJ senate passes bill expanding coverage for developmentally disabled children — [NJ] Star-Ledger

“Countless families with an autistic child are bankrupting themselves to give their child the potential for a brighter future,” said Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), one of the bill’s sponsors whom families credited for driving the bill’s success. “Autistic and disabled adults who have not received the proper treatment will leave our families, communities and state with new and more expensive challenges.”

This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 2:50 pm and is filed under autism, behavior, budget, politics, therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.