City Council launches $3M autism initiative

The City Council announced its “1 and 150” Campaign, the number of children born with autism according to a Centers for Disease Control report, and a $3 million autism initiative last week.
“Autism is a growing epidemic that affects children across the entire city. This initiative will be a good first step by the council in addressing the needs of autistic children and bringing awareness to all New Yorkers of the epidemic proportions that autism has reached,” said City Councilmember David Weprin, who chairs the council’s Finance Committee. “While we cannot offer autistic children and their families a cure for the disorder, with this initiative, we can ensure that they can enjoy a better quality of life by providing them with year-round services that support their educational and social needs.”
Through the initiative, there will be two parts, with $1.5 million being spent on each. For the first part, the funds will be divided equally among the 51 Council Districts. It will be used to provide services for autistic students such as after-school programs, summer programs and other “wrap-around” services.
The second $1.5 million, which will also be divided among the Council Districts, will be used for information and referral services. This will include forums, training seminars and promoting awareness, among other things.
“As an organization dedicated to providing a voice for the millions of individuals and families affected by autism, Autism Speaks applauds this important City Council initiative. Autism has emerged as a major health crisis, and it demands a commensurate response on all fronts,” said Alison Singer, the organization’s executive vice president. “In addition to raising awareness about autism and funding critical scientific research, it is imperative that we support these families, who fight every day to get the services their children need to reach their full potential.”
There were 5,627 students with autism in New York City public schools last year.