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Autism. The word conjures up images of children who are unreachable and anti-social.

In the past twenty years, the number of children affected with varying degrees of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen from one in 10,000 to one in every 166 children ages 3 to 10 years old.

How could such a surge in a devastating disorder happen? This question is the basis of a controversy between those who believe the surge is due to better diagnostic techniques and those who point to the use of vaccinations containing mercury.

The Institute of Medicine conducted a thorough review on the issue of a link between thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative used in the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine that is no longer used) and autism.

The institute's final report, "Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism," released in May 2004, stated that the committee did not find a link.

But one mother of a 20-year-old son with Asperger's Syndrome is convinced her son's autism was caused by the vaccinations containing mercury. Anne McElroy Dachel, a member of A-CHAMP (Advocates for Children's Health Affected by Mercury Poisoning), began researching the cause of autism when John was diagnosed at age seven.

Home-schooled until 15 and needing social skills, Dachel found a specialist in developmental disorders. "In the eight years since John's original diagnosis at seven-years-old, the rates for kids with autism had exploded. Suddenly, doctors and educators knew about autism. Kids with autism were everywhere. The doctor's assistant even had two autistic sons of her own."

Dachel's suspicions about the mercury-laced vaccinations are not without merit. She believes if autistic children have always been around, how could they have been overlooked? The symptoms of autism are not subtle in most cases. A healthy toddler who is talking and cheerful can turn sullen and aggressive over a short time.

There are many studies going on to find the reason for autism. Genetic disorders, brain formation and environmental causes are all being looked at closely. There are studies looking at a genetic chromosome disorder called Fragile X, where the parent's have altered X chromosomes. But did the vaccine trigger a brain malfunction that lay dormant in previous generations?

Dachel also raised important questions about all these autistic children becoming adults and enrolling in Social Security and disability programs. With the social security programs already being stretched for the influx of baby boomers, what will the generations of autistic adults have to live on? Those depending on governmental programs aren't contributing to the social security funds. Where will the money come from?

Finding the cause of autism is a national crisis. While programs for the disabled are being cut to the bone, there's not much money coming in to support the millions of developmentally disabled adults of the future.

Currently, tax cuts and war funding are depriving America of funding needed to cure debilitating diseases and disabilities.

We should ask Congress which crisis is more important?

McKee is a freelance disability writer and producer. E-mail her at chairgrrl@chairgrrl.com.