EBD Blog

Under the headline “In Switzerland, An Easier Path For The Disabled” on US National Public Radio, Julie Rovner presented a story about international differences in care for individuals with Autism. Ms. Rovner contrasts the experiences of Ellen Wallace, Nick Bates, and their 16-year-old daughter, Tara, with the experiences of Nancy Legendre, Walter Herlihy, and their two daughters, 19-year-old Julia and 17-year-old Lily. Tara, Julia, and Lily all have Autism.

Part of Ms. Rovner’s story is that the children live in different countries—Tara lives near Lausanne (CH), and Julia and Lily live in Gloucester (MA, US)—and, therefore, receive different health care. This feature of their situations affects their options for the girls’ futures.

The parents of Tara, Julia, and Lily are facing the the issues that the parents of many teens with disabilities face: How to provide care for their children during the children’s adulthood. Although it is difficult to generalize from the experiences of these two families except at the very abstract levels, Ms. Rovner’s treatment of the issue is nuanced and informative. Link to the Web-based version of the story.