Adult Autism on “Nightline”

by Adelle Tilton on November 17th, 2005

Nightline, on ABC recently did a report on adult autism. For most viewers, this was not something that had ever occurred to them; that of all of the children (one in 166) that have autism will soon be adults. And this is going to impact society in a big way. Nightlines recent show, “A Place in the World,” didn’t pull any punches either because it explains the worry parents have about what will happen to their children when they are no longer here. What about money? Where will this adult child live? If they cant be independent, and many, if not most, cant be totally on their own, what happens?

The show raised disturbing questions. But these questions have to be asked and society needs to find solutions. It wont be easy but this is the biggest problem facing the autism community and it does not pretend to go away in the near future.

“A Place in the World,” From “Nightline”
Autism Society of America Comments on “A Place in the World”