Thought you’d all be interested in this show tonight on Nightline .. from their daily newsletter.
A PLACE IN THE WORLD: Adults with Autism Find their Way
Oct. 7, 2005 —
For parents who hear the devastating news that a child has autism, it is one of the first questions — and the one no one can answer: what will my child’s life be? Will he find his place in the world? Of course these are the questions all parents ask for their children. But for parents of children with autism it’s a question with far deeper meaning.
Autism is a condition filled with unanswered questions. What causes this mysterious disorder? What causes autism to block so many important pathways in the brain — pathways of communication, understanding and processing? Why do the numbers of children diagnosed with autism seem to be growing? And what interventional therapies can help these children best?
But tonight’s program won’t address those questions — since those questions and the needs of autistic children are given a great deal of attention these days. Tonight we will only address the first unanswerable question. The one the worried parent of an autistic child never stops asking — even after that child reaches adulthood.
Autistic children seem forever locked in a kind of childhood. But they do, of course, grow into adults and some overcome their disabilities significantly. But for so many, especially the profoundly autistic, the challenge to find a place in the world continues. And for parents of adult children with autism there is a new question: who will help my child after I am gone?
Tonight’s program will be reported by John Donvan and produced by Caren Zucker — both of whom have personal experience with autism. They will introduce you to two remarkable families — whose love and dedication to their children is remarkable.
We hope you’ll join us.
