Hillary Clinton Unveils Autism Proposal

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential hopeful, unveiled her campaign's plans in regards to autism, a developmental disorder that affects more than 3.5 million people living in the United States, on Tuesday during her stop in Sioux City, Iowa.

Per the candidate's website:

The "wide-ranging autism initiative-including screening, diagnosis, treatment, services, safety and legal protections for individuals on the autism spectrum across the lifespan, steps to ensure they are treated with dignity, partnerships to help them secure employment, support for families and caregivers, and a commitment to increase research funding to deepen our understanding of autism."

The proposal includes four main campaigns. First, it aims to start a nationwide outreach program that will allow for earlier screenings. Second, it will heavily encourage states to mandate that private insurers add coverage for autism services. Third, it will start the Autism Works Initiative, which will connect people with the condition to more work and housing opportunities. Fourth, it will launch the first-ever autism study in adults.

"Too many American families are staying up at night worrying about their family members, especially children, who are living with autism," Clinton said in a statement. "There is more we can do."

Overall, the proposal will increase awareness about the condition with the goal of making it less stigmatized.

Clinton's autism proposal comes one week after she unveiled her plans to increase funding for research into Alzheimer's disease.