Bob Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks, said, "We have an
epidemic on our hands. The costs are staggering and will
continue to rise as prevalence continues to increase. We know
that early diagnosis and treatment are critical, so it is
imperative that the U.S. government steps up its commitment to
helping people living with autism today. There is a way to
address this. The investment we make now is essential to
reducing the immediate and long-term costs of autism to families
and society." Autism Speaks called for the development of a
national autism action plan that should include, among other
elements: - Increased funding for basic science uncovering the
genetic underpinnings of autism; - Increased funding for
environmental research detecting the causes of autism; -
Accelerated funding and development of effective medicines and
treatments; - Commitment to a strategy where all children with
autism from every background are diagnosed no later than18
months of age; - Commitment to a National Training Corps to r