This is a press release from the Governor’s Office. We’ll see how goes. Nevada is projected to have over a billion dollar budget deficit this year alone, so there is going to be a lot of pro-bono work with this.
Governor Creates Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Governor Jim Gibbons today signed an executive order creating the Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder and charged it with continuing the work of the Nevada Autism Task Force, which dissolved by statute earlier this year.The Nevada Autism Task Force was created by the Nevada Legislature in 2007 through Assembly Bill 629 and presented a report to the Governor on July 31, 2008 that made 146 recommendations on how to improve autism services and screening in Nevada. “The incredible growth in the number of children born with Autism is striking,” the Governor said. “The Nevada Autism Task Force, and all those who partnered with it, did a tremendous job illuminating the amount of work that needs to be done to address Autism in Nevada. My hope is that the Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder will continue the work of the task force and be a strong voice advocating for the recommendations made in the report.”
The Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder will consist of three members appointed by the Governor. It is required to update the Governor on its actions on or before June 30 and Dec. 31 of each year. The three members of the commission have not yet been appointed.
The incidence of Autism has increased greatly in recent years, and it’s now estimated that 1 in 150 newborn babies will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Studies have shown that 47 percent of children receiving intensive early intervention go on to lead independent lives, while 90 percent of children who do not receive intervention need a lifetime of care.
The full report of the Nevada Autism Task Force can be found online through the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services at: http://dhhs.nv.gov.
Executive Order by the Governor Establishing the Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder
(http://gov.state.nv.us/EO/2008/EO-2008-11-19_Autism.pdf)