Saturday, February 26, 2011

ASD on American Idol (Kate Altman, M.S.)


I haven't seen American Idol in years, but this story caught my eye:
http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/02/james-durbins-american-idol-audition-touching-story-amazing-vocals/

Apparently one of the contestants, James Durbin, has Asperger's Syndrome and Tourette's. It's wonderful to see a young person on the spectrum not only pursuing his passion (music), but also happily married. Unfortunately, his difficulties with unemployment highlight a huge issue for adults with ASDs: research indicates that the majority of adults on the spectrum struggle to find and maintain appropriate employment. More supports and resources in this area are desperately needed.

Hopefully Durbin will find professional success through his experience on American Idol. I, for one, teared up a bit when he sang. What did you think?