Town Hall Meeting Addresses Policy
for Needs of Adults With Autism

On November 13, 2009, Marcus Autism Center and Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) sponsored a Town Hall meeting to create a policy agenda for addressing the needs of adults with autism. Nationwide, more than 1000 Americans came together across 16 sites. 

The Town Hall consisted primarily of small group discussions providing each participant an opportunity to give direct, substantive feedback. Network computers and wireless keypad voting technology helped transform the individual discussions into synthesized recommendations representative of the each participant. While the program originated in Chicago, all sites were connected throughout the day by video Webcast.

AFAA is a national consortium seeking to create meaningful futures that include homes, jobs, recreation, friends and supportive communities for adults with autism.

By engaging a broad community of people who are committed to addressing the needs of adults with autism, AFAA hopes to advance the priorities identified at the Town Hall by translating them into federal legislation and other federal action. The group also encourages the business community to develop services for adults living with autism that make sound business sense.