Editorial: Help needed for families gripped by autism, violence
December 14th, 2009
The editorial board of the Cleveland Plain Dealer calls on Ohio to mandate insurance coverage and provide adult services for people with autism.
The editorial follows an extended feature about Sky Walker, an 18-year-old man with autism who unintentionally killed his mother, Kent State University Professor Trudy Steurnagel, earlier this year. Steurnagel had sought medical help to stem her son’s violent outbursts, but chose to keep him at home with her for fear he might face abuse in an institutional placement.
An excerpt from the editorial:
With a tsunami of autistic children heading down the pike into adulthood — and expected to live longer — adult services for all of them are critical.
Currently, there are few living arrangements for most autistic youth who are over 22 and thus no longer eligible for federally mandated services.
Yet there is much that these youths can contribute if they are monitored, employed and engaged in the community.
Cuyahoga County and the rest of Ohio must devote resources to help this vulnerable population.
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