Clinic Notes: As Society Adjusts to the Autism Epidemic

Those of us who work with children on the Autism Spectrum in clinical setting everyday sometimes forget that children with autism miss our on a lot of activities that other children find rewarding. I was delighted to see that Broadway offered an autism friendly production of “The Lion King” and many popular restaurant chains are having staff training to make eating out with a child with autism more enjoyable. Now I read that churches, synagogues, and mosques are also doing what they can to include families with autism and other special needs. Recently, a minister I knew called me and asked if iPads would keep children with autism occupied so their families could worship. I told him that should work and he brought five and is now interested in finding apps on religious topics the kids on the spectrum could use. Interestingly, public schools seem to have the most difficulty adapting to the autism epidemic. But then it is not really fair to require them to treat a neurological disorder without providing the resources.