Friday, April 22, 2011

Lack of Services for Adults with Autism Creates a Public Health Crisis

Bravo to Robert McNeil and his series on PBS Newshour this week. He has reaffirmed what so many of us in the field have known for years -- autism doesn't just affect children. Hopefully the media will follow his lead and recognize that there are so many adults across the world in need of services. Funding is needed for early intervention, as well as programs to support adolescents and adults on the spectrum.

Although federal law mandates educational services for children with autism, there are virtually no support services provided once they become adults. In the fifth report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil profiles a young man in New Jersey -- and his family -- as they face an uncertain future for him.

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