New Autism Center: 'One of a Kind'
By: Charlie De Mar
Updated: October 30, 2012
Families with an autistic child haven't been able to seek treatment locally--until now. Thanks to the new Huntington Parkview hospital autism center.
"It's one of the worst diagnosis I can give someone because its forever it doesn't go away nothing I can do that's going to make it better and I don't have any place to send them," said Dr. Duane Hougendobler.
Well, that is all about to change for Dr. Hougendobler with the opening of the Parkview autism center, which is expected to be up and running by the beginning of 2013.
"Autism is out there and we need to do something with it. There's really nothing in this area effective for people of our area so it's time and the conditions are right," said Hougendobler.
Michael Gerue is the Vice President of Neurosciences for Parkview and he explains that the new facility will provide unique individualized attention for ten children to start and eventually treat up to 40.
"We are working with an outside group to help bring in the trained individuals who will provide the one on one therapy; one child and one care provider," said Gerue.
Parkview officials say that an autism center is needed because there aren't any facilities that specifically treat autism in the region. .
"It's huge not to have to go miles and miles a lot of them are economically challenged to begin with and then we say the only place you can go is a couple miles away, that's just devastating," said Hougendobler.
I think it's necessary because we lack something of this size in our region," said Gerue.
Gerue says the closest autism centers are in
