SE Illinois News

Illinois state Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) recently took to social media to raise awareness about autism.

"World Autism Awareness Day is an opportunity for each of us to better our understanding of autism and fight for a more inclusive, accepting world for people with autism," he said in an April 2 Facebook post.

In his post, Windhorst shared a link to a page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that highlights the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. It defines an autism spectrum disorder as "a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition. Other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop."

President Joe Biden also issued a proclamation on World Autism Awareness Day.

"Here in the United States, more than 5.4 million adults are autistic, and 1 in every 44 children has been diagnosed with autism," he said in the March 31 release. "Yet this developmental disability is still misunderstood. Autistic people continue to face obstacles when seeking employment, health care, education, and housing, and the immense contributions of people with autism are often overlooked. We owe it to our fellow Americans to address the disparities they face and to support autistic people with tools that facilitate clearer communication, increased productivity, and greater independence.

"That is why my Administration is funding cutting-edge research to enable earlier autism diagnoses and to develop more resources to help neurodiverse people of all ages thrive. Recognizing that Autism Spectrum Disorder is categorized as a disability, my American Rescue Plan provided $25 billion to States to make it easier for people with disabilities, including autism, to receive care at home. We also rolled out new tools and strategies for partner organizations to connect disabled Americans with stable housing while helping them pay rent, fight eviction, and prevent homelessness."

A separate CDC release provided information on diagnosing and screening for autism.

"ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months of age or younger," the report said. "By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until much older."

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends developmental and behavioral screening for all children during regular well-child visits at ages 9 months, 18 months and 30 months. Additionally, AAP recommends that all children be screened specifically for ASD during regular well-child visits at ages 18 months and 24 months.

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, the General Assembly website said. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice and Judiciary-Criminal committees. He resides in Metropolis.