Senator Freedman, a co-sponsor of the legislation, attended a ceremony today at which Governor M. Jodi Rell signed into law HB 5666, An Act Concerning Expansion Of The Pilot Program For Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Public Act 08-63).

“It was not all that long ago that we didn’t know much about autism, or about how to help individuals who have it and their families. Fortunately, that is no longer true. We know so much more today, and I am proud to have worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to pass the bill creating the original pilot program in 2006, along with the legislation Governor Rell is signing today,” said Senator Freedman.

Senator Freedman attended today’s bill signing with other supporters of the legislation, including Speaker of the House James Jim Amann, and Lois Rosenwald, co-director of the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one in 150 newborns is diagnosed with ASD. ASD affects an estimated 22,000 Connecticut residents.

The new law expands from 50 to 75 the number of persons who can participate in the state Department of Developmental Services (DDS) pilot program for adults with ASD but not mental retardation. Furthermore, the new law extends the pilot program’s end date by nine months, from October 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 and requires DDS to report on the results of the pilot program by January 1, 2009. Also, the law requires the DDS commissioner to ensure that eligible adults living outside the pilot’s current services (parts of New Haven and Middlesex counties) have access to the expanded slots.

The autism pilot program provides coordinated services and support, including case management, for people who are not otherwise eligible for DDS services and their families.