The number of kids known to have autism has increased astronomically in recent years. It’s shocking to me that fourteen years ago, only one 1 in 10,000 children was diagnosed with the developmental disorder. Today the rate is 1 in 150. Combine that with the growth that has taken place in this area, particularly in Sussex County, and you have parents wondering, “What programs will be available for the students after they graduate the Consortium?” Are there enough group homes for these children? WGMD spoke with several parents and members of the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, and you can hear the audio with their comments here.

You can also hear the interview I conducted with Melissa Martin, Executive Director of the LDAF here.

The Interview with LDAF Board President, John Willey and another concerned parent, Susan Patel can be heard here. 

In addition–6 reports from the interviews on this critical issue have been posted in the WGMD News section of our website in the headlines.

All of the parents say there is a need for more group homes and residential programs for adults with autism and other developmental disorders. The Lower Delaware Autism Foundation is pursuing these goals, and they want to find out what parents want specifically for their children after they graduate the Consortium. The needs vary for each individual and family. If you are a parent of a child with special needs and you want to learn more about support programs, upcoming workshops, or other programs that provide assistance, go to www.ldaf.com or call 302-644-3410

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