More than 150 gather to support autism legislation

By BOB JOHNSON Associated Press Writer
Published: Thursday April 16, 2009 at 6:40 p.m.

More than 150 people gathered in front of the Alabama Statehouse on Thursday to push for passage of two bills to improve services available in Alabama to people with autism.

One of the bills received final passage in the Senate on Thursday morning just minutes before the start of the rally that included parents of children with autism and children and adults with the condition. That bill establishes an interagency council to coordinate services available for autistic Alabama residents. It has gone to Gov. Bob Riley for his signature.

The other bill would establish regional autism centers around the state. It has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.

The legislation is being pushed by Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster and Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. Ward's daughter, Riley, has autism and Folsom has an autistic nephew.

The director of the autism clinic at the University of Alabama, Laura Klinger, said the bill establishing regional centers is important because it will make services more accessible to Alabama residents, particularly those living in rural areas.

"It will make sure that every family regardless of where they live will have access to help," Klinger said.

Ward, a Republican, and Folsom, a Democrat, said the work on the autism legislation shows what can happen when the two parties cooperate.

"Autism is not a Republican issue and it's not a Democratic issue," Ward said.

Jan Appling of Hartselle in Morgan County walked through the crowd with a picture of her 30-year-old autistic son, Jeff, pinned to her shirt.

She said her son has graduated from college and is a testament for what is possible when the needed services are available.

"I always tell parents it's not gloom and doom. There's always hope out there," Appling said.

She said the need for the regional centers can be seen in her north Alabama county, where she said there are more than 80 families that have an autistic member.

"We need a lot of services, not just for children but also for teens and for adults," Appling said.