Sonoma State University professor Lorna Catford and students from the Collaborative Autism Training and Support Program will be assisting at a historic May 17 town hall meeting from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma that gives the public an opportunity to provide input on public policy on autism.
Catford, director of the program, plus several key agencies supporting people with autism, urge everyone with an interest in autism support to attend.
At this meeting, families, service providers, public officials, and others concerned about autism are expected to turn out in large numbers to participate and give their input on services for children and adults with autism.
The event's organizers are expecting a large turnout from families, including Latino families, as free child care and interpreter service are provided by the Sonoma State University students and others.
With representatives from California's Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, they will discuss recent recommendations by the Commission on three state policy areas related to autism: the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of autism; the education of students with autism; and the planning and transition of children with autism from California's school system into adulthood.
Autism presents a health crisis to the state and nation of epidemic proportions, says Catford. "It is now more prevalent than childhood cancer, diabetes, and Down Syndrome combined."
School districts in the state report an overwhelming increase in the number of students with autism in just the past four years. Especially impacted are the kindergarten and elementary level classrooms, which have seen, in some cases, a doubling of the rates in recent years.
The following agencies, in partnership with the Blue Ribbon Commission, are enthusiastic sponsors of the May 17 town hall meeting on autism: Area 4 Developmental Disabilities Board, Autism Collaborative Team (ACT), Collaborative Autism Training & Support (CATS) Program, Matrix Parents Network, Napa Valley Unified School District, North Bay Regional Center, ParentsCAN, Sonoma State University, Sonoma County Offices of Education, and Solano County SELPA.
There is no charge to attend, but please RSVP to (707) 648-4073 or ab4@scdd.ca.gov.
