Discusses $875,000 in total appropriations
PITTSBURGH, PA – U.S. Senator Bob Casey today toured The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh. During the tour, Senator Casey met with the Institute’s leadership and physicians to learn more of their efforts in autism research and discussing funding secured for the center by Senator Casey.
“The work being done at The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh is breaking new ground in helping us better understand autism,” said Senator Casey. “Today’s visit gave me firsthand knowledge of the research being performed and I am pleased to see federal funds in action.”
Senator Casey helped secure $875,480 over the last three years for The Children’s Institute. The funding that Senator Casey helped secure went toward the creation of an autism center and a pediatric unit, to assist the treatment of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as $600,000 in funding for the current year to purchase equipment to be used in research into environmental triggers of autism in order to develop effective treatments.
The Autism Society of Pennsylvania estimates that one child in 150 today is born with autism, making it the fastest growing developmental disability in the country. The Autism Society of Pennsylvania estimates there are 75,000 people statewide with autism and 4,000 people in the Pittsburgh area.
Senator Casey is an original cosponsor of the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act (S. 819) with Senator Durbin and Senator Menendez, which aims to meet the comprehensive needs of and improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their families.
Senator Casey is also a strong advocate for The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and helped to preserve and expand funding for the program in the Senate’s health care reform bill. He helped to prevent efforts to dismantle the program and helped to secure a two-year funding extension in addition to other improvements such as strengthening enrollment and outreach mechanisms and immediately implementing provisions to prevent denial of care because of preexisting conditions.
The Children's Institute is a non-profit standing pediatric rehabilitation specialty hospital in Pennsylvania and one of only 20 in the country. The Children’s Institute is dedicated to helping children with special needs and their families. Its goal is to enable children and young adults with special needs to realize their fullest potential.
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