Andrew Powell
The House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee has unanimously advanced a bill that seeks to enhance services, support and resources for children with developmental disabilities, particularly autism spectrum disorder.
Zephyrhills Republican Rep. Randy Maggard presented the bill (HB 591) and explained that the best course of action for children with disabilities is to provide an early safety net to ensure they get the help they need in school, to become successful in life as adults.
“Autism is an issue in the state of Florida, and what we’re trying to do is take a child that could be autistic, to get them tested, get them into rehab, and get them into mainstream life, get them into the workforce, so they will be productive citizens of our state,” Maggard said before the 16-0 vote.
The bill would address gaps in services by expanding the Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program to include screenings and services for autism; create the Early Steps Extended Option, allowing children to continue receiving services past 3 years old; and provide grants aimed at developing specialized charter schools exclusively for children with autism.
The measure would further fund Summer programs to help children with autism develop skills and socialize with other children. It would also establish the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Florida that would oversee autism-related grants, coordinate resources, develop training and increase public awareness.
“What the bill plans to do is if we can get them before the age of 3, our records show that 90% of those children will be productive,” Maggard said. “When we do not, then we’ll have a problem one day that we as a state will have to take care of.”
Maggard acknowledged the previous work of lawmakers who have introduced other measures related to children and adults with autism.
“Thanks to past Legislatures that set the groundwork for us to build on, we have the bones in the state of Florida that we can build this and go,” Maggard said. “I am sure that most of you know somebody who has somebody who is autistic, and unfortunately it’s a number that’s growing.”
North Miami Beach Democratic Rep. Wallace Aristide, an educator who works with both children and adults with autism, thanked Maggard for the bill.
“I deal with a lot of young people that are autistic. … I deal with adults too that have the same issues,” Aristide said, adding that it is important to “make sure from a very early age we can begin to diagnose the problem, begin the program to begin the treatment to help them so later on in life they can be productive citizens of our community. So, I want to thank you for putting this bill out. … I just think it’s phenomenal.”
Escambia County Republican Rep. Michelle Salzman, who said she has two autistic children of her own, thanked Maggard for his bill and stressed the importance of catching children early before they can fall behind.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. And in public school, and in the majority of private schools, they are one-size-fits-all curricula,” Salzman said. “When you don’t recognize and identify children that have learning disabilities, or they have unique abilities, such as children with autism, they are looked over, they are often not taught properly, and they start falling behind.”
Salzman further pointed out that it’s not only children with autism who miss opportunities in the classroom, but all the other children who are in the classroom with them.
“Third grade reading scores are literally the indicator for high school dropout rates,” Salzman said. “If you don’t catch these kids early, then you’re taking the opportunities away not just from the families, but you’re also taking the opportunities from other children in the classroom, because the child with autism isn’t getting what they need and they’re disruptive.”
“This is such meaningful legislation,” Salzman added.
The bill will now move to the House Budget Committee.
