New Jersey Congressman Christopher Smith has introduced a bill which could change the way children with Lyme Disease are treated by our government and their schools. The bill is called “Children Afflicted by Lyme Disabilities Act 2021,” or “CHILD Act 2021”. It is aimed at amending the Individuals with Disabilities Act to include Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases as a valid reason to be considered disabled.
The purpose of the bill is “To amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA to recognize more clearly that Lyme disease can cause disabilities that affect the education of children and to enhance educational services and related services for children with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases and for other purposes.”
The CDC now estimates that 476,000 people (up from 300,00 last year) are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease.
Stay tuned for more information about this bill.
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