Autism is a growing issue in the U.S. Host Paul Van Dyck speaks with Tobi Burch Rates, Vice President of the Autism Society of Oregon, about what autism is and how it affects children and how to improve the lives of all affected by autism.
Tobi Rates is the mother of two children, both of whom are autistic. Her older son has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, while her younger son is more severely impacted by autism. She understands that autism is a spectrum disorder, observing how her own children have very different support needs and have responded differently to different types of therapy and treatments. Mentoring parents new to the autism diagnosis and/or new to Oregon, and instilling self-advocacy in her children as well as other people with autism are areas of particular interest to Tobi.