New Jersey Considers Adult Autism Care

About one in 152 US children has autism. Two decades ago, the number was one in 2,000. A few people still argue that the increase is diagnostic, with once-overlooked cases now being detected -- but if that were the case, then where are all the autistic adults? Hiding?

The generation of autistic people born in the late 1980's and early 1990's is unprecedentedly large. They've also been relatively overlooked, with research focusing -- understandably -- on finding causes of and cures for autism in children. But as this generation enters adulthood, they're becoming an even greater burden for aging parents and underfunded social services.

New Jersey -- which has, at one in 94, the highest autism rate in the country -- is considering a package of legislation to help autistic adults.

Fiddle and two advocates testified in favor of a bill to create the
Adults with Autism Task Force, which would examine education, housing, job, social and health services for those older than 21, who no longer are guaranteed such guidance by the state and federal governments.

"Today in our state we are woefully, woefully underprepared for these numbers of individuals that will be 'aging out' of our system," said
Madeleine Goldfarb, the mother of a 13-year-old boy with autism and the outreach coordinator for the Autism Center of the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Related Wired coverage here.

Senate panel OKs autism legislation [NorthJersey.com]

Image: Alain Elorza