PLEASE PROTECT FUNDING for INTENSIVE BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC TREATMENT (IBAT / ABA) PROGRAMS FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN
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Your support can improve & maintain the quality of life for thousands of autistic children in California

No one would deny a loved one life-saving surgery to remove a cancerous tumor if it could save their life; even if it was the most expensive treatment available. It would be unheard of to support less expensive treatments in lieu of the surgery knowing the less expensive alternatives would be a futile effort.

The purpose of this petition is to bring to your attention that, although Intensive Behavior Analytic Treatment (IBAT) Programs may appear to be the more expensive therapy option for Autism Spectrum Disorders, these programs are the ONLY THERAPY OPTION that have been PROVEN (in multiple evidence-based studies) to improve language, cognition, behavior and self-help skills in children with ASD.

Although economic times are at a very low point, the long term consequences of denying IBAT to children with ASD will be much worse. It is common knowledge that the prevalence of ASD is much higher than in generations before. Without IBAT many children with ASD will not have the chance for the normal existence that they have now and the strain upon society as they age will be catastrophic.

Given that 1 out of 94 children in California & 1 out of 150 nationally is now diagnosed with ASD, without these services, a HUGE percent of adults would turn 18 needing help with the activities of daily living , including meals, grooming, group housing, & overall a diminished chances for an independent lifestyle. Estimates in the industry indicate that the fundamental learning skills & principals learned in childhood via an Intensive Behavior Analytical Treatment Programs over a life time can save in excess of $2,500,000** per autistic individual, to those that did not receive these programs.

At this point we are not asking for more funding the purpose of this petition is to preserve the funding despite the current California Budget Crisis to protect their current funding & priority. PLEASE help us with this critical cause by signing our petition.

* To learn more about Intensive Applied Behavior Analysis: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLG_enUS310US310&q=Intensive+Applied+Behavior+Analysis || http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLG_enUS310US310&q=INTENSIVE+BEHAVIOR+ANALYTIC+TREATMENT

** This is an estimated provided by several web-based resources & can not be validated other than the web sites claims