Recently, the government has listened to parents' lobbying for an increase in autism research funding with the passing of the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This act increases funding by over 50% toward the research, observation, and education of autism, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

In doing research the proponents of autism research, surveillance, and education hope to help the future generations of autistic children with new therapies and medications. The main goal of the Combating Autism Act is, however, the eventual development of a cure, to surely lower the current 1 in 166 rate of autism among the population. Autism is a very real problem. Research will ensure the success and social integration of the future children who will have autism, and ultimately help relieve the nation of the disorder completely.

The act also works to "increase public awareness of autism, improve the ability of health care providers to use evidence-based interventions, and increase early screening for autism." The act addresses the necessity of autism education as well as surveillance to encourage early identification of autism. This authorization works hand-in-hand with the research authorization of the act. With the education of the public, parents will be better able to recognizes developmental delays in their children in order to catch it early enough to apply effective treatment. Additionally, with continued research, health services will better be able to identify autism in children earlier and therefore allow treatment to begin earlier, effectively increasing the chance for these children to lead a more normal life.

While this is certainly necessary and an important step, it is not enough.