By Jim Shelton, Register Staff

ANSONIA — Parents poured their hearts out to state and federal officials Sunday, in a forum devoted to the frustrations of finding services for children with autism.

“I have to tell you, it was very hard, as a parent, to watch as my son was put in a cubicle for six out of seven hours a day at school,” said Alice Fitzmorris of Ansonia, whose 11-year-old son, Andrew, was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old.

At various points, Fitzmorris and her husband have taken Andrew out of the local school district and threatened to “clean out our 401(k) and hire a lawyer” to fight for appropriate educational programs.

“We shouldn’t have to beg for services for disabled children,” Fitzmorris said.

On the stage at the Ansonia High School auditorium, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, state Sen. Joseph Crisco and other panelists listened intently. They heard parents speak of the overwhelming financial burden they face, and the emotional toll of wrangling with school districts about developing educational programs.

“I’ve spent so much money trying to fight this,” said a single mother from East Haven, her voice dissolving into a sob. She has a 9-year-old son with autism, and she’s moved back in with her parents.

“I know you’re exhausted. I know how overwhelming it is,” said one of the panelists, Jacqueline Kelleher, of Sacred Heart University. She urged the woman to follow through with the official process of bringing complaints about local school districts that do not provide appropriate staff training or programs for autistic students.

The event, organized by the advocacy group Autism Speaks, drew about 35 parents. Continued...

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About one in 150 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism, according to Autism Speaks. It is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the country.

DeLauro acknowledged that most people are only just beginning to understand autism, but noted it’s “an issue the Congress is taking very, very seriously. And it has acted in a bipartisan manner.”

She said some of the federal stimulus money has gone to autism research and other programs and praised the efforts of Sen. Crisco and others to expand insurance coverage for autism-related costs through state law.

Still, panelists remarked that even legislation can only do so much without funding and cooperation from local school districts.

“Our schools are not providing those services that they are mandated to do. It all comes down to dollars,” said Judith Ursitti, regional director of state advocacy relations for Autism Speaks, and the mother of an autistic child.

“There is such difference from district to district,” added panelist Kevin Lembo, the state’s health care advocate and the father of two children with autism.

Others issues brought up at the forum included programs for adult children with autism, and where parents and teachers can get specialized training to help autistic students.

Near the end of the forum, a woman stood in the back and talked about her experience raising an autistic teenager. She said she’s going through bankruptcy and about to lose her house. “I’m broke. I have no more money,” she said. “My son needs to be educated now. He’s only getting his education from me, and what I know.”

Contact Jim Shelton at 203-789-5664 or jshelton@newhavenregister.com.

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