Aug. 05, 2009

County Executive Andy Spano’s Autism Advisory Committee has spoken – and in response Spano announced today a series of initiatives to make the county “autism friendly” and deal with gaps in services for families with children on the autism spectrum.

“The advisory committee I convened in 2008 has done an outstanding job identifying gaps in services and making recommendations for areas we, the county government, can help to improve.” Spano said. “They and  I are particularly concerned that we focus on programs for young adults with autism. One in 150 young people are being diagnosed on the autism spectrum. As these children become young adults they will be looking for jobs and services so they can be self sufficient and so their families have peace of mind.”

In a related matter, Spano will be honored Thursday night by Navigating the Spectrum, a nonprofit organization, for his commitment to programs to help families with children who have autism.

Referring to the full report, Spano said, “There are certain things we will do, some things we may be able to do and other things we can accomplish by working with others in the fields of education, employment and public safety. Our goal is to make our county ‘autism friendly’ in as many ways as possible.”

Specifically, Spano announced:

• The county will designate within  the Department of Community Mental Health an “autism liaison” who for the next year will work with the advisory committee to implement the recommendations of the committee and deal with other issues as they emerge.
• A key aspect of that will be to help disseminate information regarding  services and training for people with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, with a special focus on support and services available beyond school age.
• The county will expand the availability of informational materials and support services to assist families in finding and obtaining needed services.
• Though diagnostic and treatment services exist in the county, the committee identified additional needs in this area, particularly for adults with autism. As a result, the county will work with providers to develop specialized medical services to fill gaps in the current system.
• Building on programs already in place in the Office for the Disabled, the county will help local businesses and colleges incorporate opportunities for employment and education for people on the autism spectrum.
• The county’s office of Emergency Services will work with first responders (police, fire EMT) to make sure they are properly trained to help people with autism in the event of an emergency
• The county will make sure its own employees are properly trained to deal with persons with autism.

County Legislator Tom Abinanti, a member of the committee and parent of a child with autism, said, “These are good common-sense proposals that will make a good program even better.”

Judith Omivaridan, a parent and co-facilitator of the committee, said,  “The committee was responsible for identifying services lacking within Westchester County that are necessary to better serve and improve the lives of individuals with autism and their families. With the help of the county government, we can ultimately make a difference in the lives of individuals with autism and for their families.”

The full report is available at www.westchestergov.com/autism. The site also includes links to various  resources in Westchester County.

The Autism Advisory Committee was created by Spano and has been working under the leadership of Commissioner Grant Mitchell, MD, at the Department of Community Mental Health. It is comprised of parents, county officials and representatives from local and national autism organizations, educational experts and clinicians who worked to identify the most critical gaps in services across the lifespan and across settings as children transition into adulthood. The committee will assist in the implementation of its  recommendations.

Autism Liaison
The designation of an autism liaison within the mental health department was a key recommendation of the advisory committee. This person will be someone who will facilitate the recommendations of the committee,  pursue additional resources and opportunities for public/private partnerships and be attentive to the
development of other supports and services for individuals with autism, particularly as they get older. 
The autism liaison will also be responsible for directing the expansion of the autism section on the county  Web site, in an effort to help families navigate the complex systems and services that do exist. The
liaison will also work  to sensitize cultural and community organizations, businesses and recreational facilities to the needs of persons with autism and their families.

Business/Employment/Education
Despite these difficult economic times, the county will recognize and promote businesses where internships or employment opportunities might exist for adults with autism.

Said Spano, “Our Office for the Disabled already has a significant program to encourage employers to hire people with physical and mental disabilities. We will add a component focusing specifically on autism by providing businesses with a ‘how to’ manual to assist them in making any necessary adaptations to successfully employ adults with ASD and will recognize businesses who employ individuals on the spectrum. We will also collaborate with educational institutions including Westchester Community College to develop post-secondary education opportunities that meet the needs of this population.”

Training for First Responders
While the  Westchester County Department of Public Safety had already begun to provide training to new police recruits, the Autism Advisory Committee stressed the need for on-going training for county employees and first responders in working with individuals with autism.  This training will include learning to recognize the symptoms and presentation of autism and knowing how to more successfully and safely interact with individuals, especially during crises.

Committee Members
County Legislator Tom Abinanti, a parent of an autistic child; Joanne McMahon, special education  consultant and autism specialist and sole proprietor Autism Advocacy Consultants;  Alison Tepper Singer, parent of a child with autism and founder and president of the Autism Science Foundation; Neil Boyle, vocational coordinator at Devereux Millwood Learning Center; Betty Crea Davidson, founder and executive director of Navigating the Spectrum;  Marlene Spector, Ph.D., psychologist at the McCarton School; Peter Faustino, Ph.D., school psychologist at the Fox Lane Middle School; Judith Omidvaren, parent of adult with autism (deceased) and  co-facilitator, Families of Adults with Asperger’s Syndrome & High Functioning Autism and editorial board member of  Autism Spectrum News and Science Ambassador, Autism Speaks;  Marjorie Madfis, parent of child with autism; Nina Spooner, parent of child with autism; Theresa Pirraglia, parent of adult son with autism, Board Member FECA, (The Foundation for Educating Children with Autism) and member of the Editorial Board,  "Autism Spectrum News";  Gail Chen, parent of child with autism and parent advocate; Mary Zingaro, parent of child with autism