Community members are fighting for funds from City Hall as autism becomes an increased health issue in Queens.
Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects 1 in every 100 children. While some children with the disease have low I.Q.s and poor communication skills, others, who are considered “high functioning” autistic cases, are verbal with a normal I.Q. level, but are consumed with social awkwardness. It is the “high functioning” children who do not receive the attention and entitlements they deserve, according to Deputy Managing Director of UJA’s Department of Government Relations and External Affairs, Anita Altman.
“Many children on the autism spectrum do not qualify for funds though the New York State Office for People with Development Disabilities,” Altman said. “The threshold for eligibility is very high, and far too many individuals are left with no entitlements.”
With lack of funds and support, individuals began taking matters into their own hands.
Altman founded a task force that is dedicated to help people with disabilities. With the help of the community and government relations, she played a leading role in the fight for autism funds.
The New York City Council realized three years ago that there were many children who were not receiving adequate attention from the state; therefore, without the help of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Council set aside $1.5 million to support 25 programs that are scattered throughout all five boroughs.
“The mayor never puts these funds in his budget,” explained Altman. “So every year we have a rally to persuade officials to keep giving us funds.”
An annual rally takes place on the steps of City Hall. This year, it will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 1.
Despite great efforts, the funding for the autism programs decreases every year. This year the programs were awarded $1.25 million, a significant loss compared to the previous years.
While Altman understands that with the diminishing economy there is tremendous competition for funds, she still believes that autism service programs represent a miniscule amount of the city’s overall budget.
Jeri Mendelsohn, the head coordinator for the Samuel Field Y, located at 58-20 Little Neck Parkway in Little Neck, and Central Queens Y, at 67-09 108th Avenue in Forest Hills, agrees that funding is essential to running the afterschool and “wrap around” programs.
“Wrap around” programs include afterschool, weekend and summer workshops that increase the involvement in various social activities, such as sports. The program also sponsors parent education and staff training workshops.
“The loss of funds would be devastating,” said Mendelsohn, “not only for the children, but for the parents as well.”
She describes a vicious circle that occurs when there is no city funding. Without the funding, parents would have to pay for programs out of their own pockets, which many families can’t afford. Without the autism programs, parents with autistic children cannot go to work, because their children cannot be left without supervision. Without employment, parents cannot afford any type of treatment for their autistic children. This cycle will only continue and worsen without the funds from the city, according to Mendeslohn.
The funds are also necessary because Autism continues to affect more families and grows closer to home each year.
“When we started the initiative ‘1 in 150,’ for every 150 children at least one of them would be diagnosed with autism,” explained Mendelsohn. “Today it’s one out of 100 children that is diagnosed with autism. It is a true public health concern.”
