N.J. takes autism diagnosis, treatment seriously In response to the Feb. 28 letter written by Anne McElroy Dachel ("We'll pay a terrible price for failure to address autism"), while I wholeheartedly agree that we should be concerned with the latest New Jersey autism rates coming in at 1 in 94, I would like to disagree on several points in your assessment of this "health care emergency" as you put it. First, as you stated, we need to stop this from happening to more children. How do you propose we do that? Since, I would assume, you are pointing a major finger of blame at the theory that environmental causes like toxins in the environment and specifically thimeresol and other heavy metals in vaccines, I would point out that studies have proven no direct causal link between thimeresol and autism. Would you propose we spend our hard-earned tax dollars continuing to disprove this relationship? Personally, I'd prefer to see this money spent on services, detection and awareness. I'll leave the research to the federal money from the Combating Autism Act and the $950 plus million earmarked. Next, you characterize these 1 in 150 children as becoming an overwhelming burden on society once they reach adulthood. I would submit that a vast, vast majority of those one in 150 are classified on the autism spectrum as Aspergers and mild PDD-NOS, groups who are much higher functioning than the dire predictions you make for them. Most will have no trouble being productive members of society. Besides, if we spend our hard-earned tax dollars on services, detection and awareness, we will be able to treat and help these kids earlier so that they may even lose their diagnosis before 18, 12, 7 or even 5 years and earlier. Lastly, I like to take exception to your challenge to find all the autistic adults. Remember all those high-functioning Asperger's and mild PDD-NOS children you characterize as burdening society? Well, they grow up and do lead productive lives - maybe as chemists, technicians, computer programmers, scientists. Some may seem antisocial and "quirky," they're out there, though. But, don't take my word for it, ask some of our local programs like IMPACT in Middletown that work with transitioning autistic teenagers, Bayshore Jointure Commission in Aberdeen working with preschooler through high school kids, the countless other excellent programs in both public school systems and private programs, and therapists and volunteer programs in the Bayshore area in Monmouth County. Better yet, come see what happens when we have more early intervention, good therapies, well-funded school programs, and solid research into causes and strategies to help children and adults like we have in New Jersey. In short, our 1 in 94 number is a testament to what happens when you take autism diagnosis and treatment seriously like we do in New Jersey. We can look at the many causations of autism, but not at the cost of offering early detection, therapies, and education for the autistic population in Monmouth County, in New Jersey and the country in general. William Kuhles Aberdeen