Rocco Magliozzi is a busy 5 year old. He goes to school, gets daily language tutoring, and logs lots of time on his computer. But all this work is not about getting into a good private school. He is literally fighting for his life. Rocco is autistic, and his chances of living an independent life may depend on the skills he can learn before he turns 6.

Tonight, we’ll see how Rocco's mom hopes to secure a brighter future for him. Plus, we’ll report on the controversial theory that childhood vaccines may have played a role in the rise of autism cases.

Show Resources:

Angela Peri’s Comedy Show to benefit the “Friends of Ladders” Program
www.bostoncasting.com
Sunday, Oct. 9
7-9 p.m.
The Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall
617-248-9700
www.comedyconnectionboston.com
Comedy lineup includes Tony V, Patty Ross, Brian Kiley, and Nooch

Advances Learning Center
46 Austin Street
Newtonville, MA
617-923-7575
www.advancesonline.com

Dorry Brown
Director
Group Language Therapy Program
Children’s Hospital Boston
www.childrenshospital.org
617-355-6473

Vanda Marie Khadem
Attorney at Law
617-739-7335

Margaret L. Bauman MD
Ladders Clinic
65 Walnut Street
Wellesley, MA
781-449-6074
www.ladders.org

Richard Deth, PhD
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Northeastern University
312 Mugar Life Science Building
Boston, MA
617-373-4064

James Neubrander MD
732-985-6600
www.drneubrander.com

Scott McLeod PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
73 High Street
Charlestown, MA
617-724-8005
www.mghyouthcare.org

Asperger’s Association of New England
182 Main Street
Watertown, MA
617-393-3824
www.aane.autistics.org