‘Autism is lifelong:’ Advocates say new law expanding autism coverage to adults will make a difference

Korri Ward’s identical twin sons are 30 years old. One of her sons, Darrick, graduated from UNR with a master’s degree and now works for the federal government. He’s a voracious reader and massive movie buff who loves DC and Marvel comic books and lights up when he talks about his favorite films. The other son, Doug, has a small candy machine business and lives at home in a duplex she and her husband built to give him independence. An avid outdoor lover, he can spend hours swimming and going to the park with the family’s dog, Shep. He also loves listening to music. When they were 5 years old, both of her sons were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a developmental disability that manifests differently in each person and is often characterized by challenges with communication, social interactions and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.