Gov. Corzine praises new measures
By Greg Forester Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — Gov. Jon S. Corzine came to the Eden Family of Services Employment Facility in West Windsor on Wednesday to sign legislation providing support for those suffering from autism and related illnesses in New Jersey.
The governor and legislative sponsors said that the seven bills signed into law will enable the state to mount a new attack on the afflictions, which affect 1 out every 95 children in New Jersey — the highest reported incidence of such conditions in the United States,
The legislation, which had bipartisan support, included bills providing for the training of teachers in autism awareness, requiring pediatricians to screen for symptoms of autism, creating a new panel of experts to study the needs of children with autism and related disorders, and extending funding for autism research and treatment.
”These pieces of legislation are a strong showing that our family members have the best shot at having a happy and independent life,” said Gov. Corzine. “We need to make sure we take our communities and schools and make them a world of inclusion, and all this legislation is meant to accomplish that.”
Parents of autistic children present at the Eden Institute said they were optimistic that the legislation would help to improve the treatment of the disorder and its effect on afflicted residents and their families.
”This is a good start, but we still have a long way to go,” said Leon Andors of Pittstown.
Mr. Andors’ son Zachary suffers from autism, and was seated in the front row during the bill signing.
”We are hoping people understand how important this is and don’t stop providing services for people with autism at 21 years old,” Mr. Andors said.
West Windsor Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said the bills signed into law Wednesday would provide good support for the disease, noting the incidence of autism in New Jersey has been going up yearly and no one really knows why.
”We are 100 percent behind these bills and the programs they support, like the Eden Institute,” said Mayor Hsueh. “They have provided a lot of treatment programs and therapies for kids with autism and this is very important, so West Windsor has always supported their programs.”
Some officials said Wednesday that New Jersey’s high rate of autism could be the result of better diagnostic techniques as well as treatment and support levels that attract families with autistic children to the state.
Researchers are continuing to look into the causes of the statistical anomaly, according to Dr. Emanuel DiCicco-Bloom, a West Windsor resident who was in attendance at Wednesday’s signing.
”It is really a combination of changes in diagnostic criteria and the grouping of several disorders together,” said Dr. DiCicco-Bloom, who is a professor of neuroscience and cell biology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Dr. DiCicco-Bloom said he has seen significant changes in the diagnosis and treatment of autism during his career.
If doctors noticed a single symptom of autism in a child years ago, they were frequently told not to tell the parents, but now doctors would immediately make a referral, he said.