Press Release
Autism MonthSmith’s laws to combat autism making a huge difference for New Jersey families touched by autismRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, this week marked the beginning of Autism Month, highlighting the critical need to expand access to care, education and support services for families touched by autism—which affects one out of every 35 children in New Jersey. “Tragically, New Jersey has the second highest rate of autism in the nation,” said Rep. Smith, who has worked tirelessly over the years for effective interventions and durable remedies for individuals with autism. “During Autism Month, we bring additional attention to the needs of the autism community, the dedication of their family caregivers and the amazing work being done by grassroots organizations—including Autism Speaks, the Shore Center for Students with Autism, and Autism New Jersey—to help those with autism in our area,” said Smith, who has authored four major laws to combat autism, including the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2019. Known as the Autism CARES Act, Smith’s comprehensive legislation—signed into law by President Trump—provides $1.8 billion to fund research, early detection and treatment for children and adults with autism through 2024. Smith’s law also expands government programs to include, for the first time, adults with autism who are far too often overlooked and age out of programs. “While much progress has been made to combat autism, we must do better to ensure those affected by autism have access to the education and services they need to live healthy, independent lives—especially and including as they ‘age-out’ of school-based programs and become adults,” Smith said. Smith’s most recent law expanded the work begun under his Autism CARES Act of 2014 to help train health care professionals to provide diagnostic and early intervention services, including 52 Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Related Disabilities (LEAD) training programs—like the one at Rutgers University—as well as 10 Developmental-Behavior Pediatric (DBP) programs. It all started in Ocean County. Smith’s involvement on autism issues began in September 1997 when Bobbie and Billy Gallagher—parents of two small children with autism—from Brick walked into his Ocean County office looking for help, believing Brick had a disproportionate number of students with autism. In response, Smith brought federal agencies to Ocean County for an investigation—which found that autism prevalence rates were high not only in Brick, but in nearby communities as well—and authored the Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act, which was incorporated as Title I of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, authorizing grants and contracts for the collection, analysis and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. Smith has also since authored Kevin and Avonte’s Law—named after two boys with autism—which was signed into law as part of an omnibus bill to provide funding for critical educational programs to prevent wandering, as well as non-invasive locative tracking technology to assist individuals with autism and their caregivers. Very common among children with autism, wandering can result in serious injury or even death. PHOTO: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the author of four major laws to combat autism, meets with Bobbie and Billy Gallagher—parents of two small children with autism—from Brick who first walked into Smith’s Ocean County office seeking help in September 1997. Smith’s laws continue to make a huge difference for families touched by autism, including his Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act—which funds research, early detection and treatment for children and adults with autism through 2024. ### |