**in addition to nightline -- WORLD NEWS TONIGHT is going to air 3 different stories Monday & Tuesday 2 Parts on Adults with Autism , Wednesday: Siblings & sibshops



CAN A PERSON WITH AUTISM SUFFER THE PAIN OF A BROKEN HEART?

“NIGHTLINE” EXPLORES LOVE AND AUTISM IN
ECHOES OF AUTISM: PAUL IN LOVE
TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2006


ABC News and “Nightline” have reported extensively on Autism and how the fastest growing developmental disability impacts the more than one million people living with Autism and the people close to them. In their latest report on autism, the ABC News team of correspondent John Donvan and producer Caren Zucker look at emotions and autism and ask the question: can people with autism feel love and heart-break the same way non-autistic people do?

In their report airing this Tuesday May 30th on “Nightline” Mr. Donvan profiles Paul DeSavino, a 36-year-old New Jersey man living with autism who says he’s in love. But does he really know what it means to be in love and to connect? His mother Marlene DeSavino of Rivervale, NJ describes how his condition makes it more difficult for him to connect with others: “He goes off into his own little world and that’s the difficult part in having a relationship. It’s because he leaves them. He could leave them cold and he can’t open himself up. He doesn’t know how to do that yet.”

Mr. Donvan and Ms. Zucker’s report, “Echoes of Autism: Paul in Love” airs on ABC News “Nightline” Tuesday May 30 at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT). The next night, Wednesday May 31, Donvan and Zucker look at autism in the family in “Echoes of Autism: My Brother’s Keeper” and the burdens and blessings of being the brother or sister of an autistic person.

“Nightline” is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran, and Martin Bashir. James Goldston is the executive producer. “Nightline airs at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) weeknights on the ABC Television Network.


-ABC