NORTHVALE, N.J. (AP) -- Officials and environmental experts are investigating a high incidence of autism and learning disabilities among children born to teachers at a special education school here.
An informal poll taken by officials at St. Anthony's revealed that 14 of 39 children born to faculty members since 1997 had a learning disability _ three were diagnosed as autistic and 11 experienced speech and language delays. The poll relied partly on teachers' recollections.
St. Anthony's has served children with varying degrees of autism for 30 years, and currently has about 100 students. The property is owned by the Newark Archdiocese and leased by the Northern Valley Regional High School District, which administers the program.
Testing options for the building were scheduled to be discussed at a meeting Tuesday night. In the meantime, summer programs have been moved out of the building, Superintendent Jan Furman told The Record of Bergen County.
The archdiocese has conducted twice-yearly asbestos tests as required by law, spokesman Jim Goodness told the newspaper, and the school district conducted an air quality test that revealed no irregularities. Health officials said the school will also be examined for lead and volatile organic compounds.
``What I've been told is it's learning disabilities encompassing physical handicaps, neurological, autism and a broad spectrum,'' borough health officer Angela Musella said. ``The bottom line is you can't draw any conclusion. We are still gathering information.''
A federal study made public earlier this year found New Jersey had the highest rate of autism ever recorded in the United States: one in 94 children, and one in 60 boys. The overall rate in 14 states surveyed was one in 150 children. In New Jersey, a study released in 2000 could not find a cause for a high number of autism cases in Brick Township.
``All the lead people involved in the study said they understand the rates are higher, but they're not sure what's making the difference,'' said Dr. Walter Zahorodny, director of the New Jersey Autism Study and assistant professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
WCBS Newsradio 880 is the flagship radio station of the CBS Radio Network, CBS News and the broadcast home of the New York Yankees. Four decades of broadcasting New York tri-state area news, New York tri-state area traffic, and New York tri-state area weather and backed by the global resources of CBS News, WCBS always has the edge on breaking news and the day's essentials. WCBS consistently reaches over 2 million listeners each week and you can listen on air, online and on demand to WCBS' personalities including Charles Osgood, Andy Rooney, Kim Komando, Anthony Dias Blue, Bob Lape, Charles Grodin, Dave Ross, Wayne Cabot, Michael Wallace, Mary Alice Williams, Jim Tailor, John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman, Pat Carroll, Pat Farnack, Ed Crane, Jared Max, KC Connors, Tom Kaminski and Craig Allen. www.wcbs880.com
E-Mail Story
Print Story
