“World Autism Awareness Day is an opportunity to highlight the progress we have made to better understand Autism Spectrum Disorder and assist impacted families, but to also raise awareness of the significant challenges that remain—both in the U.S. and abroad,” said Smith, Co-chair of the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education, and Chairman of the House Subcommittee that oversees global health.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to join with Suzanne and Bob Wright—tenacious leaders who lead the fight to make today one of only seven U.N.-sanctioned ‘world days,’ and light the world blue to raise awareness of ASD,” said Smith, referring to the campaign to light buildings and landmarks blue or wear blue on April 2 to bring attention to the needs of the autism community, and who has written major laws to direct federal resources to research better diagnostic tools and intervention methods for ASD.  “Their work is helping millions around the world understand an ASD diagnosis and then know what to do to ensure a loved one has the necessary support.”

About 1 in 68 children in the U.S. has been identified with ASD, according to the most recent estimates from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released in 2014. In Smith’s home state of New Jersey, 1 in every 45 children has ASD, the highest rate in the study.  Internationally, it is estimated that 67 million individuals are on the spectrum. 

“In many countries, ASD is largely under recognized, under appreciated in its impact, and under resourced,” Smith continued.  “Events like today’s closing bell ringing, are critical to our efforts to focus attention on this developmental disability pandemic and continue a united strategy to improve the quality of life of children, adults, and families impacted by autism, wherever they reside.” 

Smith’s initial involvement with autism came in 1998, when a Brick Township, N.J. couple, Bobbie and Billy Gallagher, who had two children with autism approached him with fears that an autism cluster existed in their community. The meeting led Smith to request that the federal government conduct an investigation into a possible autism cluster in Brick. The investigation, one of the first federal studies on autism, not only showed higher rates of autism in Brick but also demonstrated that rate was not an isolated case, but a window to a nationwide phenomenon. 

He then authored and shepherded into law the landmark 2000 Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act (Title I of the Children’s Health Act, PL 106-310). He also authored two other autism laws—the 2011 Combating Autism Reauthorization Act, (Public Law 112-32), and the 2014 Autism CARES Act (PL 113-157)—which combine to build on and expand the critical research, services and supports for families impacted by ASD. 

Smith is now working to bring the lessons learned in the U.S. to the global stage—where studies in Asia, Europe, and North America indicate that an average of about 1 percent of the population has ASD. Smith has chaired two hearings on the global impact of autism, and in the 113^th Congress, he introduced HR 4631 – the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act, and  HR 3054 – the Global Autism Assistance Act.  The latter bill is now part of HR 1468 – the Global Brain Health Act of 2015, introduced in the current 114^th Congress. 

“As a result of better federal policies and funding, we have a better handle on the impact of autism in the U.S. and the services needed to ensure that individuals with ASD can live productive lives,” said Smith.  “But we still have so many unanswered questions and are facing a crisis that must be urgently addressed. Every year, 50,000 young people on the autism spectrum matriculate to adulthood and are in the process of losing services. My Autism CARES Act began a national conversation on how we can anticipate and better prepare to meet the needs of the ‘aging-out’ population.  While this is a key first step, there is much more to do. 

“Today, we should all join this conversation and reflect on how we can build on the past successes to take concerted actions that will help overcome future global challenges.” 

Smith’s most recent law authorized $1.3 billion over five years, including $22 million for the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program; $48 million for Autism Education, Early Detection, and Intervention, and; $190 million for hundreds of Research Grants at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.   

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