Ignoring possible causes of autism will be costly

Ignoring possible causes of autism will be costly
EDITOR:
Every April I feel it is my annual duty to write a letter to the editor informing people it's "Autism Awareness" month. A few months ago the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data from a 2002 study stating that 1 out 150 children has autism. Twenty years ago, 1 in 10,000 children had autism. Does anyone find that shocking? If 1 in 150 children were being struck blind or with some other illness we would have the world turned upside down trying to figure out why, not so with autism. Why is that?
I see all these stories on the television and in the paper about autism and I never get a sense of urgency. The media is somehow turning autism into the new "normal". Last year we saw a wonderful young man, Jason McElwain, who miraculously made six 3-point shots at his basketball team's final game of the season. Jason was only the team's manager, but out of the goodness of his heart Jason's coach let him come off the bench in the last few minutes of game to play. Luckily, somebody caught it all on tape, and Jason has now become one of the most famous faces of autism. Kudos to Jason, but unfortunately most children with autism will never make 3 pointers.
A recent study the press coveredshowed that over 100 genes can be involved and that somehow these genes may spontaneously change to cause autism. And, if you can't buy that flimsy explanation here is another- better diagnosis is to account for the 1 in 150 number.
A controversial theory that won't go away is the role vaccines have played in the increase in autism. The media is almost always sure to say that connection has been disproved. This is not true. There are many studies that support the connection and many more in the works. Vaccines are the cornerstone of our healthcare system in this country -- we can't let the fact that a few hundred thousands kids are developing autism get in the way of our aggressive vaccine schedule.
It's time the average citizen becomes aware of what all this spontaneous gene changing and better diagnosis is going to get them. It is estimated that care over a lifetime for one autistic individual will cost around 12 million to 15 million. Where will that money come from to care for 1 in 150 adults with autism? We've all heard about the baby boomers and the impact that will have on Social Security when they start to retire. But wait till all the autistic kids start showing up at the local Social Security office to get on SSI disability -- without having worked one day in their lives.
I would say by 2015 the bell will be ringing loud and clear, and we will see how happy Joe Taxpayer is when he starts flipping the bill for gene mutations and better diagnosis. I anticipate he will not be happy.
ANDREA KELLER
Canfield
Waste and mismanagement are core of WRTA's problems
EDITOR:
As a Youngstown resident, taxpayer and voter who helped pass many WRTA tax levies over the years, I am appalled at how mismanaged the WRTA has become over the years.
I believe the WRTA does not need more and more funding from the city, state, or federal government only so its executive director, James Ferraro, and WRTA Board of Directors can continue to come up with more and more ways to over expand and spend beyond Youngstown, while cutting routes in Youngstown that many taxpayers have paid for.
I, like many Youngstown residents, taxpayers, voters and bus riders, truly want to support the WRTA bus service, but we have lost confidence in the transit system over the years.
The WRTA board and its executive over-expanded routes outside of Youngstown, with no way to pay for it. It was they who gave raises to all their employees, with no way to pay for it. It was they who started night bus services, with no way to pay for it. And it was the WRTA board and Mr. Ferraro who increased the cost on the bus to a 1.25 after the voters passed a tax levy in 2005.
It is foolish and appalling for them to try to blame anyone, everyone and everything for the cuts in services at the WRTA, rather than acknowledging their own mismanagement and wastefulness.
WILLIE RICHARDS
Youngstown