Legislation would make federal money available for teachers of autistic children

Thursday, July 17, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would make federal funds available for the training of teachers work with children with autism.

Corzine, a member of the Congressional Autism Caucus, introduced the bill, entitled the Teacher Education for Autistic Children (TEACH) Act, with Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) joining as an original co-sponsor.

Autism is a developmental disability characterized by atypical, often repetitive behaviors and deficits in social and communication skills. Though it is difficult to determine an exact number, some researchers believe that 1 out of 250 of our nation’s children are in some way affected by this disorder.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education in 1991 there were 241 children in New Jersey schools who had been diagnosed with autism. By 2001, that number had risen to 3,984--an increase of 1,548%.

“Autistic children deserve the same opportunities as other children to achieve the highest quality of life,” said Senator Corzine “This money will help bring more qualified teachers into the classroom, help families find the support and services they need for their children, and improve vocational programs to assist people with autism in transitioning from school to work.”

Corzine’s TEACH Act would authorize the Department of Education to invest $15 million each year for five years to provide education or professional development training for current teachers or students who want to be special education teachers, teachers' aides, or other professionals who work with autistic children. It would also authorize $5 million a year for five years to help states and local school districts improve their curriculum to meet the needs of autistic children and would also establish a loan forgiveness program for qualified teachers of these children.

In addition, Corzine’s TEACH Act would establish a loan forgiveness program for qualified teachers of autistic children to provide up to $20,000 to help them pay off college loans or loans associated with taking continuing education courses related to autism. This incentive of up to $20,000 to help pay off college loans will go a long way in attracting more qualified individuals into special education.

Corzine’s bill would also establish State Autism Ombudsman Offices that would act as clearinghouses for autistic families who are seeking information on services, education, and other. It would also create a national Task Force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding best practices for the education of autistic children.

“The incidence of autism in this country is rising at an alarming rate,” said Corzine. “While the cause of autism and its cure are unknown, we do know that early intervention from qualified teachers is the most effective treatment for autistic children. This legislation is an important first step to ensuring that we have better training for teachers and better support for families with autistic children.”

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) had previously introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

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