Letter: Autism services expand locally
Photo credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan | Traffic is bumper to bumper looking west on a Sunday along Jericho Turnpike (Route 25) in Commack.(Oct. 16, 2012)
The news story "Study links autism, smog" [Nov. 27] is most important. It is estimated that one in 88 children born in the United States has autism, and there is a significant population of people with some form of autism on Long Island.
Effective resources must be provided. Research and experience have shown that with special education and training, autistic people can make strides toward mainstreaming and leading relatively normal lives.
Life's WORC, a Garden City-based nonprofit, has recently established a Family Center for Autism, expected to serve some 1,000 Long Islanders and their families.
Donald Barrick, Garden City
Editor's note: The writer is the vice chairman of Life's WORC.
