When I first heard that autistic people didn't have empathy, I assumed my son Mickey must be an exception.

He was not yet 2 when the developmental specialist told us all the things our child would never do. Pretend play. Eye contact. Empathy. I remember sitting on the floor...

I'm not laughing.

In fact, I'm fuming.

A developmentally disabled 42 year old man named Robert Schiavelli was slapped with two court summonses for laughing too loudly, because his neighbor Daniel O'Hanian complained to the police that Schiavelli was "disturbing the peace."

Why was he laughing?

Because...

There's no way you'd spot us in a crowd. We don't have a secret handshake. But somehow, special needs parents always manage to find each other. Maybe it's that unmistakable look of exhaustion and resolve many of us wear. Whatever it is, I've been part of this family...

"Can I get Annie for Hanukkah?" my son Mickey asks.

"You mean the musical?"

From his lack of reaction I can see he doesn't know that word. "You mean Annie who sings?"

"Yes."

"What does she sing?" I ask him, just to be sure I understand what he wants.

Remember that saying from the 1970s, that the personal is political?

As the parent of an autistic 20-year-old son, I know what my own family is struggling with. The need for employment. Housing. Health care. Insurance. Long-term community-based services and supports. Education. Transportation. Research. Improving the quality of life for autistic children and adults is my top priority.

I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm not telling you who I'm voting for. Because this is a bipartisan issue. We need politicians who will lead, not follow. Politicians who will actually develop and co-sponsor bills, not ones who just show up for photo ops during an election year. They need to know just how urgent these issues are to the autism community. They need to understand that funding our families' futures isn't discretionary; it's a necessity.

On Friday, Sept. 28, both the Obama and Romney campaigns will address the nation's disability issues, including autism, at an election forum between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. EST. (You can watch the webcast by registering here.)

It's up to our whole community to remind our politicians that our voices count. We need programs, not just promises. We need to know how our politicians intend to make a difference for the autism community.

Because my 1 in 88 can't wait. He needs a plan, and he needs it now.

For more information on what you can do to get involved, please visit Autism Votes.

For more by Liane Kupferberg Carter, click here.

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