ERIC Number: ED213230
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1981-Aug
Pages: 95
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Endless Quest: The Autistic and Their Families.
Ray, Nancy K.; And Others
The report of the New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled looks at autism in five chapters concerned with characteristics of autism, parenting the autistic child, New York State's institutional care network for the autistic, perspectives of professionals on autism, and Commission recommendations. Among nine findings of the report are the following: the service delivery system is driven by the needs of larger and better organized groups of developmentally disabled advocates; there is no accepted theory of etiology, diagnosis, or treatment modality; parents must negotiate the maze of available services without guidance; services vary depending upon location; and there is a critical need for developing day programs for the autistic from preschool through adult age. Eight recommendations are made, only three of which would require new funding. Among the cost free recommendations are establishing the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities as the lead agency serving the autistic with primary responsibility and accountability for meeting their needs; to establish a State Autism Task Force as to identify, formally assess the needs of, and plan a course of service development for the autistic; and to involve parents in planning treatment and programing when possible. New funds would be required to conduct a survey to identify all service providers in the State serving and/or willing to serve the autistic; identify all individuals in the state with autism; and expand services by 100 new community residential beds for autistic individuals. Appended are addresses of five autism advocacy agencies in New York and responses of various state agencies to the Commission's report. (DB)
Descriptors: Autism, Delivery Systems, Etiology, Handicap Identification, Incidence, Needs Assessment, Parents, Program Development, Residential Programs, State Programs, Therapy
NYS Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, 99 Washington Ave., Suite 730, Albany, NY 12210 (no price quoted).
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, Albany.
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A