Robert MacNeil Reports: Autism Now

In the first of six reports in his Autism Now series, former NewsHour anchor Robert MacNeil takes viewers on a visit with his 6-year-old grandson, Nick, to see how autism affects the whole family. Nick experiences autism not just as a brain-development disorder, but also as physical ailments affecting his whole body.

In the second report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil investigates why the number of children with autism is increasing in the U.S. He meets children at different points on the autism spectrum and gets several views on the increase in prevalence -- from better diagnosis to a variety of environmental factors.

The rise in the number of reported autism cases has caused a surge in research to find the causes. For the latest thinking, Robert MacNeil speaks with four leading researchers about the issue. It's part three of the Autism Now series of reports.

For public school systems, the demand for special educational and treatment resources for children with autism often outpaces what is available. In the fourth report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil looks at how two schools in the New York City area handle teaching children and teens with autism.

Although federal law mandates educational services for children with autism, there are virtually no support services provided once they become adults. In the fifth report in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil profiles a young man in New Jersey -- and his family -- as they face an uncertain future for him.

Governments, educators, families and public health officials face mounting challenges in dealing with autism as the prevalence in the U.S. continues to grow. In the sixth and concluding segment in his Autism Now series, Robert MacNeil explores these issues and possible solutions in a roundtable with four autism researchers and advocates.