Autism care should be expanded

Re "As autism comes of age, caregivers are worried" (Page A1, June 28): As the parent of a 27-year-old son with autism who lives at home with us, I was grateful to see your article on the challenges facing families who have an adult child with a developmental disability. You did an excellent job of capturing the worries that confront us on a daily basis as we begin to age and wonder how our sons and daughters will fare when we can no longer care for them.

The timing of your article is significant, because at this very moment, California's Department of Developmental Services has recommended cuts to the community system of services and supports that threaten to undermine and weaken services in a way that we can hardly imagine. The vast majority of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities live at home with their families, yet the community supports that make it possible for our sons and daughters to live a productive life are taking the brunt of the budget cuts.

Instead of increasing the burden on families who care for their children 24 hours per day, we should be actively engaged at all levels in planning how to develop and sustain a meaningful system of services that is appropriate for adults with autism.

– Elizabeth Katz, Roseville

Caregivers need loving care, too

Re "As autism comes of age, caregivers are worried" (Page A1, June 28): Cynthia Hubert's article was a fantastic profile of the issues facing adults with autism and those who care for them.

As research continues on how to care for both adults and children with autism, we cannot forget that we also must care for their caregivers. Caring for someone with developmental disabilities can have emotional and physical repercussions. Respite care is a proven prevention technique that protects caregiver health and well-being while preventing out-of-home placements and reducing the risk of abuse or neglect.

At United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento, our Family Respite Program provides caregivers with the freedom to complete activities we take for granted in our everyday lives: running errands, taking care of household concerns or spending time with nondisabled family members. The program gives caregivers the comfort of knowing that their developmentally disabled family member is being cared for by a well-trained professional.

For more information, visit www.ucpsacto.org/respite.htm.

– Doug Bergman, chief executive officer and president, UCP of Greater Sacramento

In agreement, more or less

Re "Less, less, less is the answer" (Letters, June 28): The writer's solution to high unemployment is lower wages, lower payroll taxes, lower unemployment benefits and suppression of labor unions. He is absolutely correct. This would give China some real competition, and give illegal Mexican immigrants other options besides agricultural, construction and domestic-service jobs.

But I wonder if China provides financial assistance to parents funding their children's college educational expenses, because if that is the case, the U.S. government would have to step up in that department … to keep up with the Chinese.

– Larry Braybrooks, Fair Oaks

Gambling's a losing proposition

Re "Russia to casinos: Move or die" (Page A10, June 29): We may disagree with Russia on most governmental issues, but on banning slots and casinos to remote, inaccessible sites out of urban areas, they got it right: Gambling casinos are detrimental to society.

In the United States, almost all of the "Bugsy" criminal variety have been driven out. However, now we have an insidious, dishonest variety that sells snake-oil propaganda portraying gambling, including Indian casinos, as "temples of virtue" and leaches the vulnerable consumers with lies.

This includes government- approved gambling, racetracks, card rooms, charity bingo – not just Indian slots casinos.

We have a very serious national gambling crisis that politicians will not acknowledge.