ABC Nightline-An Adult living with Autism-Tonight @ 11:35 p.m.

[Guest guest]

"A Place In The World" - Living With Adult Autism On ABC News "Nightline"Friday, October 7 More than one million Americans are autistic. It's the fastestgrowing developmental disability estimated at one in 166 births a year.Much has been reported on autistic youth and as we come to terms with thistrend among children, many wonder: what happens when all these children growup? ABC News correspondent Donvan and producer Caren Zucker offer anin-depth look at adult autism through the experiences of two autisticadults and their families in "A Place in the World" to be aired this FridayOctober 7 on ABC News "Nightline" at 11:35pm. Both Mr. Donvan and Ms. Zucker have family members with autism. As Mr. Donvan reports, a significant challenge facing these familiesis establishing enduring support for their children to last throughadulthood and life. Jim and Jen Hoppe of Wycoff, NJ, whose 21-year- olddaughter is profoundly autistic, helped develop a school, where made enormous progress for 16 years. But, as Jen explains, there was noplace for to go as an adult: "Nobody knows what the plan is. Thenumber of people with autism has just overwhelmed everyone. .there is noplan. we have to make a plan." For the parents of DiSavino, who is 36 and autistic, the concernnow is what will happen to their son after they've gone. As Mr. Donvanreports, their current solution is a group home, but the alternative wouldbe unbearable. Says 's mother, DiSavino of Rivervale, NJ, "Hewill not survive it . it would be regressing back to the institutions, backto not caring, just doing, just warehousing them . not recognizing what'simportant, and just abandoning them." "A Place in the World: Living with Adult Autism" airs on "Nightline" this Friday, October 7, 2005 at 11:35 p.m. (ET). Ted Koppel is the anchor and managing editor of "Nightline." TomBettag is the executive producer. "Nightline airs at 11:35 p.m. weeknightson the ABC Television Network.