Why Lakewood’s Firefly Autism is Expanding its Adult Offerings
No one grows out of autism, but adults have often been left behind when it comes to treatment, services, and funding. Lakewood’s Firefly Autism wants to change that.Daliah Singer •
Travis Plakke doesn’t dawdle in the grocery store. There’s no perusing the aisles or bantering with the cashier. He aims to be in and out in 15 minutes. It’s not because Plakke has an aversion to picking out produce and canned goods. Rather, the space itself has a visceral effect on the 49-year-old: The flickering fluorescent lights are so distracting, he has to wear a hat pulled down low. When another shopper gets too close, Plakke’s skin begins to crawl, and his brain sometimes feels like it’s filled with static electricity. Just talking about the experience makes him sweaty and anxious.