Scott Fogo and Cathy Pratt

Autism produces unseen but very real emotional, physical and economic costs for families living with this spectrum disorder, facts well-known to the people at Easter Seals, the leading non-profit provider for autism services.

Parents of children with autism are struggling with a host of worries that impact every aspect of their lives, and are particularly fearful that their family will lack the life-long supports needed to address the significant challenges of autism, according to a new study released today by Easter Seals and made possible by MassMutual Financial Group.

Easter Seals’ Living with Autism Study results reveal parents raising children with autism are very concerned about the future independence of their children. In fact, they’re far more concerned than parents of typically developing children -- nearly 80 percent say they’re extremely or very concerned about their children’s independence as an adult, compared to only 32 percent of other parents. This is especially true when it comes to their financial independence, quality of life, social and inter-personal connections, and employment and housing opportunities -- and with good reason.

Scott Fogo, Director of Autism Services at Easter Seals Crossroads in Indianapolis; and Cathy Pratt, Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University, and Chair of the Board for the National Autism Society of America.

Christopher Springmann

11 / 20 / 2009