Autism to be topic at assembly, hearing

Autism awareness advocates are scheduled to meet for two events today in Spanish Fort.

Spanish Fort High School's Project Outreach will hold a school assembly from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. focusing on autism, and the Alabama Autism Task Force will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Five Rivers Delta Conference Center on the Causeway.

Spanish Fort High School's Project Outreach is a student volunteer organization. The school has 13 autistic students and a staff of eight including teachers, aides and nurses. Disabilities range from moderate to very severe, a task force spokesman said.

Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior, all exhibited before a child is 3 years old, the spokesman said.

The goal of the project, which started last year, is to train students from the general population to interact effectively with autistic students. "The project has been a great success," said Michael Lucci, Spanish Fort High School's principal. "Participating students have made a real difference in the lives of many of their autistic classmates."

Recently Gov. Bob Riley established within the House of Representatives the Alabama Autism Task Force headed by state Rep. Cam Ward who is the parent of an autistic child. State Rep. Randy Davis, of Daphne, is also on the task force. The task force has conducted regional meetings in the north and central parts of the state.

The task force is charged with bringing recommendations to the governor and the Legislature for the 2008 Regular Session. It has been meeting at autism treatment centers in the state to bring more awareness to this issue. state. At today's 10:30 session, the task force will hold a public hearing at which autism support groups, nonprofits providing autism services and parents will have the opportunity to speak about issues facing autism in Alabama.