Coming of Age

Nobody knows how many adults have autism, or how well they fare in employment, independent living or overall happiness.We do know that more than 26,000 kids a year are diagnosed with the disorder in the United States alone, and that between 150,000 and 300,000 of them will become adults in the next five to ten years.Anticipating the unique needs of those rising numbers, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston announced Monday its plans to build a center specifically for treating adults with autism. The program will be financed thanks to a $29 million gift from the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation.Read more at...SFARI, August 2009.