President Obama’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2010 includes increased funds for employment assistance for people with disabilities as well as autism research and awareness, among other programs.
The budget proposal includes $11.5 billion for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is in addition to the nearly $5 billion already set aside for IDEA in 2010.
Another $11.6 billion would be applied to decrease the backlog of disability claims at the Social Security Administration.
Other disability-related programs would also benefit from the proposal. On the health front, Obama will seek more than $140 million for autism research funded through the National Institutes of Health, and $125 million to provide mental health care to kids and teens with emotional disorders.
For employment, Obama will ask for an increase of $10 million for the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Separately, the budget includes $145 million to increase the number of attorneys handling civil rights cases at the U.S. Department of Justice, and $8 million for Centers for Independent Living and other programs benefiting those with disabilities.
