US Capitol, Source: Autism Society of North Carolina
I am a Canadian father of two sons the younger of whom is severely autistic. I hope our good neighbors in the United States pass the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA) before the Combating Autism Act expires at the end of this month. Apparently the US House of Representatives may vote this week on whether to pass CARA.
The Combating Autism Act has helped generate important autism research. A guest column by Judith Ursitti of Autism Speaks is featured in the Washington Times. She asks her fellow Americans to keep up efforts to have the US Congress, beset with many pressing issues, pass the CARA and provides helpful links to that end. The Autism Society of North Carolina blog features much helpful information for American autism advocates and is the source of the beautiful US Capitol photo above.
As a Canadian I can only stand on the outside and watch. As the father of a severely autistic son who knows that most of the leading research that has helped our understanding of autism and how to deal with the challenges it presents for my son has originated in the United States I am hoping that, once again, the US leads the way in combating autism disorders and passes CARA.
This week this Canadian father of a son severely affected by his Autistic Disorder is, once again, waving the American flag and hoping for passage of CARA.