Let me give you an idea of what doing something actually consists of, Elysa and Lucy. Think of this as a hypothetical regarding what would happen if I were an American citizen and I was commencing the first term of a Presidency I had been elected to.

Combating Autism Act – gone. Kaput. Ripped up and burned and overturned like a Wiccan living in the America of the colonial days.

Language like “Combating Autism Act” (not to mention “…with autism”) would be legally defined as discrimination. Many autistic adults (like me) get sensory reactions to the mere sounds of words, leave alone their actual meanings. I, for one, do not like the visual image of the US Army kicking down my door and mistreating me because they want to combat me.

The Fairness Doctrine would be reinstated and added to the Constitution. Something like “No point of view in a controversial issue shall be presented without the opposed points of view being given a chance to present themselves”, or something to that effect. Jenny McCarthy would never be able to spew her filth without Tony Attwood coming in to correct her ever again.

Anti-discrimination acts such as Affirmative Action and the Civil Rights acts/bills would be expanded so their language includes the autistic. Lawyers, senators, teachers, and every other person in a position of authority in the country would be sat down and informed, re-educated if need be, that diversity and difference do not stop at skin colour.

So far, Obama has done none of these things, and even publically stated that he does not wish to bring the Fairness Doctrine back because he does not see its value. If he did do one or more of these things, it would only benefit the autistic in America. But his refusal or ignorance of the need to do them is hurting every autistic individual in every part of the world.

If it means IDEA, Early Intervention, local services, and a host of other things get funded, count me in. If that means I’m focusing too narrowly in the context of the larger economy, I’ll reflect on that later. Right now I’m too busy gathering supplies to take to school Wednesday so the teachers have everything they need to teach our kids. I’d hold a bake sale if I thought it would help.

Much of what’s on the White House’s web site are policy statements migrated over from Obama’s campaign site. (Believe me, I read the policy statements for just about everything on both his and McCain’s site during the election pretty much cover to cover.) But still, it’s awesome that it’s on the White House’s site. I do have some concern that others are getting short shrift here (people with Down Syndrome and everybody else who qualifies under IDEA, for example, among many others). I have theories about all this, but it’s too involved to go into in a comment.

Lucy – Thanks for the heads up on Autism Sunday. I totally missed that. Ack! It’s on my calendar! Yes, we’ll be looking out for a message from the President!