At a meeting of Autism leaders from around the world, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Autism Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasized that perseverance is needed for legislators and advocates from all countries to address this prevalent disorder and galvanize change.

     “The House committee of jurisdiction emphatically told me that ‘no disease specific’ legislation would be voted on,” said Smith, speaking on his struggle to provide resources and research for autism in the year 2000. “We persisted—grassroots autism advocates, Moms and Dads—and ultimately succeeded in making my autism bill, the ASSURE Act, title one of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, which became law.”

     In 2005, Smith and autism activists again faced opposition: “as the autism law was about to expire, we faced the same argument—but Autism Speaks waged an incredible battle to save, and expand, the law.”

     Autism Spectrum Disorder affects a person’s social communication and interactions. Autism is seen in 1 of every 68 American children, with an even higher prevalence seen in New Jersey, where it is found in 1 of every 41 children. While current reports show a much smaller percentage globally, a Harvard study indicated that as better diagnosis procedures are put in place around the developing world the diagnosis rate will rise rapidly.

     Smith also noted the extreme importance of nutrition in the first 1000 days of a child’s life, from conception until around the 2^nd birthday. One item of particular note is the introduction of folic acid supplements in the three months before or during the first month of pregnancy. In a study sponsored by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, or IACC, mothers who took the supplement saw a massive—40 percent—reduction in the risk of autism.

     Smith is the author of three laws designed to expand research into Autism, the most recent being the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014.” He has also chaired two hearings on Autism around the world, including “The Global Challenge of Autism” in 2014. The importance of Autism research was brought to his attention in 1997 when Bobbie and Billy Gallagher, parents of two autistic children, expressed their concerns to him about a possible autism cluster in Brick, N.J..

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