April 2, is World Autism Day as defined by the UN. Watching various new coverage, I was staggered by the growth in diagnosis of children with autism. For every child, there is a family surrounding that child who needs support. I came across a most tender article in the Washington Post entitled, “ Autistic and Overlooked.” The article written by Linda H. Davis and with amazing honesty tells the growing dilemma faced by families who care for those with autism. Here is a part:
The explosion in autism is striking: A disorder on the autism spectrum is diagnosed in roughly one in every 150 American children. Assuming that that rate holds, by 2016, less than a decade from now, the number of American adults (those 22 and over) with autism is expected to be nearly 1.5 million. The costs to society and to American families will be staggering. Autism affects a relatively small number of the 54 million Americans with disabilities. Some of those people are temporarily incapacitated, but millions will never be cured.
Though many Americans are familiar with the 1997 Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, which mandates a free and appropriate education until age 22 for children who have disabilities, few seem to know or care that there is no similar legal mandate for them after age 22. As states struggle to serve their most vulnerable citizens while dealing with budget cuts at all levels, the number of disabled Americans swells.
My own family is a case in point. Two years ago, at age 53, I learned I had an incurable form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In an instant, my life expectancy was reduced an additional seven to nine years. Suddenly, our plans to keep our autistic son, Randy, living at home with us indefinitely looked highly risky. When we sat down with our case manager from the state Department of Mental Retardation and requested an eventual residential placement for Randy — through my sobs — we were told that the agency would need six months’ notice.
With complete sincerity, this article set me to thinking. Sometimes, I need to be reminded to look outside my own journey and become mindful of others. For all the families of children with autism, you are in my thoughts. I hope we find an answer soon.
April 2, is World Autism Day as defined by the UN. Watching various new coverage, I was staggered by the growth in diagnosis of children with autism. For every child, there is a family surrounding that child who needs support. I came across a most tender article in the Washington Post entitled, “ Autistic and Overlooked.” The article written by Linda H. Davis and with amazing honesty tells the growing dilemma faced by families who care for those with autism. Here is a part:
With complete sincerity, this article set me to thinking. Sometimes, I need to be reminded to look outside my own journey and become mindful of others. For all the families of children with autism, you are in my thoughts. I hope we find an answer soon.