When autistics 'age out' of mandated aid

The statistic is well known by now: More than one in 100 children has autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But what happens when autistic children become adults and "age out" of the educational programs available for children?

"We need to put a lot more attention into the issue of the ultimate outcome," said Laurie Murdock, executive director of the Mosaic Foundation for Autism, based in Wantagh. "If we educate a student beautifully for 18 years and then they sit home after that, then we haven't prepared them for life, and we haven't done our job."

Murdock, whose sons Bryan, 20, and Connor, 16, both have autism, organized a benefit concert to be held in Port Washington Friday to raise awareness for the needs of adults with autism. Proceeds will benefit the Genesis School Eden II Programs in Plainview, the Mosaic School for Autism in Wantagh, and Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism's Martin C. Barell School in Commack.

"The idea was to try to interest the public more in what we're doing," she said. "A lot of people really haven't thought of this part of the whole equation: What happens to these kids when they grow up?"

She said the focus of education for autistic adults should be on how to function in the workplace -- learning not only job skills but all the steps that go along with having a job and real-life responsibilities.

Her son Bryan attends an NSSA program at the Barell School. "I know that they work really hard on him sticking to a schedule and sticking to the task at hand, which is no small thing," she said. "Certain things need to be done at certain times, and he needs to learn how to communicate any difficulty, how to pass that information on and get things resolved, how to deal with stress."

Kathy Mannion, the associate executive director of Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, said that the funds raised at the benefit will help close budget gaps that most autism programs face. Mannion said her organization typically needs to fill a gap of about $300,000 each year through fundraisers and donation requests.

"The philosophy is that although mandated services stop at age 21, learning doesn't," Mannion says of the need for adult education. Mannion also has two children with autism, and her son Brian, 22, attends the adult services program at the Barell School.

"He has a tremendous interest in art and likes doing digital video editing and drawing," she said, adding he has developed a story line involving 196 characters. "He goes to a variety of different job types and does job sampling. Getting out into the community as much as possible is important for real-life experience."

Theresa Paine of Wantagh sends her daughter, Rachel, 16, to the Mosaic School two days a week when she's not being home-schooled. She said Rachel, whom she adopted as a baby, loves music and has been singing since age 2.

When Murdock suggested that Rachel sing along with the performers during the concert on Friday, the teenager was thrilled. "Every child has a gift, and in Rachel's situation it's music," said Paine.

"I think it will be a touching final moment of the concert," Murdock said of Rachel's anticipated performance. "She has the voice of an angel."

The benefit

The Performing Artists for Autism Education Inaugural Concert, featuring folk rock music performed by Peter Case and Joe Iadanza, will be held at 8 p.m. Friday at the Landmark Theater in Port Washington. Funds are being raised through ticket sales, priced from $15 to $40, as well as through business sponsorships.