National Autism Association Calls Upon Obama to Declare Autism a National Health Crisis
A new report out yesterday places autism rates among U.S. children at one in 91, with autism now affecting one in 58 boys. These new numbers, from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are prompting outrage from parents and autism advocates over inaction from government health agencies in addressing the crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of American families.
In contrast to its response to these alarming numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has spent billions of dollars developing an H1N1 vaccine despite growing questions regarding the severity and prevalence of swine flu, and concerns over the safety of the vaccine.
"We hope these new numbers will create an immediate shift in priorities, especially within the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)" said National Autism Association (NAA) board member Kelly Vanicek. "This nation's children need the CDC's full attention, and we are again asking President Obama to declare autism an epidemic and a national health crisis."