SAN DIEGO (WATE) - WATE is this year's co-winner of the National Autism Society's Media Excellence Award. Reporter Don Dare accepted the award in San Diego Friday on behalf of the station.

Brook Dickerson, president of the Autism Society of East Tennessee, submitted the entry for WATE, which included three stories that aired last year and early this year.

The first story aired on May 23, 2011 about an autistic girl named Autumn Martin. She was put in an isolation room at her Maryville elementary school. Her mother later moved the family from Maryville to Alcoa.

The second story centered around an adult who was losing some of his caregivers due to state budget cutbacks. 6 News talked with the state director of mental health and disabilities about the issue.

The third story, which aired on January 4, concerned Drew Roberts, an autistic teenager whose mother was evicted from their apartment in Powell because the boy made too much noise. The apartment owner reversed his immediate eviction order as a result of the story.

The media award is given for work that made a significant contribution to the autism community. It was given at the 43rd annual meeting and symposium for the National Autism Society.

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WATE wins national award for autism coverage in East Tennessee