Maryland holds summit to discuss improving autism services

From WBAL-TV:

BALTIMORE -- Health and education experts are meeting in Baltimore to retool the state's approach to autism.

They want to streamline resources to make it easier for families to find long-term treatment and support.

"It's somewhat disjointed. We need more coordination," said House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel County.

Autism rates are soaring in Maryland. Currently, there are 7,500 autistic children in Maryland's educational system compared to 1,600 in 1999.

"We have a wave of people crashing into the system when resources are scarce," said Nina Wall-Cote of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Public Welfare.

State officials are trying to improve the efficiency of services for autistic children, adults and their families.

"Our goal is better integration with government and the private sector in preparation for the demographic wave as it moves forward," said John Colmers, secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygeine.

Doctors currently don't know why that wave continues to build. Colmers said one in 150 children in the state are somewhere on the autism spectrum, with the rate approaching one in 90 for boys.

Even so, he said he doesn't think vaccines are to blame.

"The best available evidence is there is no relationship between vaccines and autism," he said.

While research continues into the cause, the group of experts is focused on early intervention to produce the best possible outcomes.

"We need to focus on what works and invest more in what does work and less in what doesn't," Colmers said.

The summit comes on the heels of legislation that created the Maryland Autism Commission that will study the effectiveness of statewide services.