Creative activities for New Yorkers with autism and developmental disabilities

OLD BETHPAGE, N.Y. (FOX 5 NY) - Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, or FREE, is a nonprofit organization that supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At least a quarter of whom are diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

On World Autism Awareness Day, FREE hopes to educate others on what people with autism can accomplish. 

While many of the students at FREE who have autism struggle in some areas they excel in others. When it comes to employment, they have a strong work ethic and many students have the ability to hear something once and be able to memorize their lines in shows and lyrics to songs.

An estimated 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC. The why is still unknown. Experts believe it has to do with a combination of genetic and environmental factors.