For the children Our view: For the children

Our view

It's encouraging to learn about the expansion of the ABC of NC's autism clinic, breaking ground on June 28, as the Journal's Michael Hewlett reported recently. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of families, board members, staff, volunteers and members of the community that this facility is rising to meet the extensive needs of children with autism.

The new 26,000-square-foot clinic on Friedberg Church Road, expected to open in summer 2018, will offer diagnostic services and behavioral and occupational therapies for children with autism. There will be "labs" that mimic public spaces in which children with autism can practice their social skills as well as classrooms, vocational training spaces and a gym, as well as other facilities.

As Felice and Richard Brenner and John Burress, leaders in this push, wrote in a Journal column Sunday, "People with autism in Winston-Salem deserve a chance."

Officials with ABC of NC say the expansion will cut down on waiting lists for families needing a diagnosis for their children and will enable them to better provide services, the Journal reported. The organization currently serves about 350 children and their families every year from 18 North Carolina counties, mostly in the Triad. That number is expected to grow to about 700 after the clinic is completed, Casey Raymer, the organization's director of development, told the Journal.

The center is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to raise $6.5 million for the facility and has raised more than $4.2 million so far, the Journal reported.

The number is striking: 1 in 58 North Carolina children born today will receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The diagnosis refers to a group of complex disorders of brain development and is marked by difficulties in social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and issues with verbal and nonverbal communication.

An initial diagnosis of autism can be devastating to families. Organizations like ABC of NC help families cope and thrive. It has set a pattern for others to follow and deserves our support.

For more information, visit http://hello world.abcofnc.org/