TITLE 16

Education

CHAPTER 16-24.1

The Rhode Island Autism Spectrum Disorder Education Act

SECTION 16-24.1-2



   § 16-24.1-2  Legislative findings. –

It is hereby found and declared as follows:



   (a) Autism is a neurobiological, developmental disorder that

is defined by behavioral and development features.



   (b) Autism is best characterized as a spectrum of disorders

that vary in severity of symptoms, age of onset and association with other

disorders (e.g. mental retardation, specific language delay, epilepsy) and are

unique in their pattern of deficits and areas of relative strengths. They

generally have lifelong effects on how children learn to be social beings, to

care for themselves, and to participate in the community.



   (c) The incidence of autism has dramatically increased. In

1992, one in ten thousand (10,000) children were diagnosed with "ASD", yet

currently one in one hundred fifty (150) children have this disorder.



   (d) Children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

offer unique challenges to families, teachers and others who work with them,

particularly with nonverbal and verbal communication and behavior problems.



   (e) Medical and psychological experts still do not know the

causes of "ASD", prevention of "ASD" or unified strategies dealing with

children and adults afflicted with such disorder.



   (f) Education, both directly of children and youth, and of

parents and teachers, is currently the primary form of treatment for Autism

Spectrum Disorders (ASD).



   (g) The education of children and youth with ASD is accepted

as a public responsibility. However, goals, methods and resources available

vary greatly from school system to school system, school to school, and class

to class.



   (h) Education is defined as the fostering of the acquisition

of skills or knowledge- including not only academic learning, but also

socialization, adaptive skills, language and communication, and reduction of

behavior problems to assist the child to develop independence and social

responsibility.



   (i) "ASD" exacts an enormous economic toll on society,

including the public school system and family finances.



   (j) The Autism Society of America estimates that the lifetime

cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from three million five hundred

thousand dollars ($3,500,000) to five million dollars ($5,000,000), and that

the United States is facing almost ninety billion dollars ($90,000,000,000)

annually in costs for autism.



History of Section.

(P.L. 2009, ch. 201, § 2.)