Page 3 - Eric Sadowsky News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> reporter: new york state says it's helping more and more people with developmental disabilities lead increasingly independent lives. it says it's in the process of shutting down those sheltered workshops and trying to help people find jobs. >> ruth can sing a peanut butter sandwich made with jam. >> i had always thought when he got older i had this vague idea that he would have some kind of a job and that it would be over. and i am only adjusting now over the last two years in this transition period to understand that it's never going to be over. as long as i'm alive, i will be caring for e...

I built lessons. put together a daily plan for him. this is how it is set up for adults. you graduate and all education stops. and eric is nowhere near finished with his education. >> reporter: eric's parents are also paying out of pocket for activities to get him out of the house. he has a gym membership, a music therapy class, and a companion to take him places. but it all comes at a staggering cost. do you have any idea how much money you've spent on care for eric? >> probably our least expensive year has been about $40,000. and the higher ones have been around $90. >> reporter: $90,000 dol...

Adults with autism. >> i had wanted to put him at one of the local ys. they said they had a special needs program. it turns out now they only go to 14. this is a phrase i hear from agency, program, center, all the time. >> reporter: on the day after his 21st birthday, eric walks into school for the last time. >> bye eric! >> no, sabrina. you're not done yet! wait until 2016. >> that's so far away! right now we're in 2012. >> it's really tough. i wish we had more of a plan for eric. >> reporter: joshua rich, eric's head teacher, says the day is even more difficult because eric is the first stud...

Time. >> reporter: did you miss it? >> oh i was heartsick. >> reporter: but then on the other hand i'm sure you would do absolutely anything for your son. >> of course. that's what was happening. i couldn't say no to any possiblity of help for him. you know, i just saw so much potential. i knew this kid had so much in him, that any help that he needed, i, we gave to him. >> reporter: the symptoms of autism are measured on a spectrum. eric is roughly in the middle. there are many people who are far more challenged, like nickolas kubicsko. his story starts at home on new york's long island, wher...

For next year? >> reporter: eric's not in trouble. he has autism and by law. he must leave school when he turns 21 in a few months. but his dad, richard sadowsky, says eric's not done learning and he and mary are in a panic about what eric will do next. >> to abruptly end his time here is not a good idea for him. >> reporter: eric has been a student at the rebecca school for the past five years. it's a private school dedicated to providing specialized support like speech and occupational therapy to children with developmental disabilities. >> it's a place where he's understood and he's cared a...