Ending Autism Stigma on Tonight's MetroFocus on THIRTEEN

The award-winning series MetroFocus premieres new episodes in the New York and tri-state region weeknights at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 p.m. on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN. All episodes are available at metrofocus.org following the broadcast.

The episodes description for tonight, Friday, April 29 follow below. Please note episode descriptions are subject to change. Please visit metrofocus.org for the latest information.

MetroFocus Special: Ending Autism's Stigma - Autism. The number of children with the disorder is on the rise, with 1 in 68 kids diagnosed, forever impacting families and whole communities. In this special edition of MetroFocus, we meet the Gallagher family, whose autistic son was not just fitting in at school, but was a star student. They are the subject of a Newsday documentary that shows how one family and the larger community can band together to take autism, and its stigmas, head on. Theirs is a story of hope and strength for other families that are facing the unknown road that an autism diagnosis can bring.

Joining us to discuss the documentary Brendan Gallagher: Always a General, is Robert Cassidy, the deputy director of multimedia at Newsday, and Brendan's father, Joseph Gallagher.

MetroFocus Series Overview MetroFocus is an award-winning multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York and tri-state region. The MetroFocus television program features interviews, in-depth reporting, content from many partners and solutions-oriented reports from the community. Major areas of coverage include sustainability, education, Science and technology, the environment, transportation, poverty and underserved communities. MetroFocus.org amplifies that reporting with daily updates and original stories that also cover culture, government and politics, the economy, urban development and other news in the metropolitan region. More information at: thirteen.org/metrofocus/about-us-faq/

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