Activists and parents of children with autism called for changes by the state Education Department and local school districts Wednesday in Mineola.

Several people demonstrated for additional special services in schools for kids with the increasingly prominent neurological disorder.

"There simply are not enough resources for children who are affected and with a growth rate of 15 percent a year, this is not a problem that's going to go away unless some serious action is taken," said Autism United Executive Director John Gilmore.

Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach) hopes to deliver that action in the form of a bill he proposed last week. The legislation would mandate autism screening for all children by age 2, which Weisenberg said "is the best way to get medical attention and the care [for] a child with special needs."

Wednesday's demonstrators said if the state Education Department fails to act within 60 days, they will move forward with a lawsuit.

State education officials did not return calls for comment.

Related Information: National Autism Association Autism Research Institute NYS Education Department