Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton just announced her new wide-ranging autism initiative today on the campaign trail in Iowa. Looks like she’s getting pretty serious about this whole election thing.
So what’s her plan? She wants to focus on research, treatment, insurance coverage, education, and employment for those affected by autism. This includes conducting early screening campaigns, pushing states to requires health insurance to cover autism services, supporting adults who have autism, and increasing jobs. In Politico, Clinton stated:
“Too many American families are staying up at night worrying about their family members, especially children, who are living with autism. There is more we can do.”
Apparently, she’s on a roll when it comes to family and health, because she also had some serious words about foster care while she was in New Hampshire this past Sunday. At the town hall event, a young girl asked Clinton how she plans to help kids affected by drug abuse, because she herself was in foster care as a result of her mother’s substance abuse.
READ: Hillary Clinton Learned How to Say ‘Kvell’ During 2000 NY Sen Campaign
Clinton responded and stated how the foster care system needs to “improve.” She further explained:
“I feel strongly we’ve got to improve our foster care system, because when children come to foster care they become all of our children. They should be given all of our love and support when they face a situation like this. Thank you for raising it.”
Powerful moment when a girl whose mother died of a drug overdose asks Clinton a question pic.twitter.com/h2CkqRzHiN
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) January 3, 2016
According to a 2014 report by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, about 415,129 children in the U.S were in foster care.
Regardless of who wins the 2016 presidential elections, we hope more positive developments and changes happen for both of these causes, because everyone should be able to live happier, better lives, regardless of their situation.
