April is Autism Awareness Month, and the numbers are shocking: one in 166 children has autism; for boys, it's one in 100.
We don't know why there are many more children diagnosed with autism today than there were 20 years ago. We do know that the earlier the diagnosis, the sooner these kids can get the help they need and the better they do.
Parents and pediatricians should be on the lookout for clues in three categories: social, communication and behavior.
Social:
- A baby might have little or no eye contact.
- They don't respond to your expressions.
- Preschoolers don't play with their peers, or don't share their accomplishments with others.
- They can't take turns.
Communication:
- Babies don't babble.
- They don't have words around their first birthday
- They don't point to objects they want.
Behavior:
- They have unusual or repetitive hand or finger movements
- They don't have pretend or imaginary play.
- They have unusual reactions to sights, sounds or touch.
- They're easily upset with small changes.
The "Enable" Program
“Enable” is a center based in Syracuse that is helping children with autism control outbursts and aggressive behavior using something called Applied Behavior Analysis - or ABA for short.
51 families are the waiting list to learn the program. Eight families are taking part right now. 10 year-old Jordan Jackson is one of those students. He has trouble communicating. “He can get very loud and when he can't get... If he can't get his point across he will react and get aggressive,” Natalie Jackson, Jordan's mother told reporter Tanja Babich, who had a chance to sit down and speak with the family.
Jordan was diagnosed with autism several years ago. Just six months ago he began working with Angela Saturno from Enable. “As we work with him we're working on his ability to ask for things. It is a skill that he doesn't quite have yet,” said Saturno.
Using one of the main principals of ABA, repetition along with some positive reinforcement, Jordan is showing signs of improvement. ”It's helping him! It's really kind of changing his behaviors towards people, being appropriate,” said Natalie.
Jordan has also made great progress at Nate Perry Elementary School in Liverpool, learning to communicate using sign language and pictures.
However, Enable says students like Jordan could benefit even further if teachers were trained in ABA. ”It would be nice to collaborate because often times what's happening at home is also happening at school,” said Saturno.
Enable is trying to raise money to bring someone in who can train its children's teachers in ABA.
Enable may encounter some resistance from school districts in its efforts to instruct teachers in ABA.
Liverpool superintendent Jan Matousek says teachers there use some of the principals of ABA, but that the district would rather not use the program in its entirety because it feels it is too strict and regimented.
Jowonio School helping kids
Once your child is diagnosed with autism, its key to get them started on a treatment right away. One Syracuse preschool has been helping autistic children for a generation, and is seeing younger students all the time.
Three-year-old max is just like any other child in school; he likes his classmates at the Jowonio school, likes drawing, writing and, of course, playtime.
However, unlike his peers, Max is autistic, which means he needs special care and guidance.
Folks who work with the kids say the younger the care happens for the child, the better. ”Early diagnosis and early education of children with autism is extremely important because the development of all children in the first five years is so rapid,” said Jane Dagenaise, Max’s special education teacher with the Jowonio school.
Dagenaise’s own son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. She enrolled him in pre-school where, like max, he was taught routine, speech and music therapy. They are special methods that tend to help autistic children not feel as anxious about transitions.
“Our goal is to try to figure out ways to help him communicate, help him connect more and pay attention more,” said Ellen Barnes, the Jowonio school director.
When Max first started at the school, he was completely non-verbal. Now, he says some words, thanks to early concrete visual supports. If Max wanted a banana, he could actually point at the picture and hopefully say the word banana.
Initiation can be a challenge for people on the autism spectrum, so having that visual schedule and picture helps them initiate and make a choice,” said Jed Kissane, a teacher with the school.
Max's teachers hope the early structure and inclusion with other children will help him with his development and academic success.
Barnes compares Max with another autistic student, who was also non-verbal and withdrawn early on.
“He is now at S.U. getting support, but he's in a regular program doing really well,” said Barnes.
He’s making strides each day, like little max, refusing to let autism stop him from reaching his goals and achievements.
The Jowonio School also uses a special therapy to help autistic children adjust to sensory sensitivities, like a sensitivity to touch, noise and light. They say this kind of therapy aids autistic children with adjusting to different environments.
Center at Upstate Medical Center
The Developmental Evaluation Center, run by Upstate Medical Center and the state office of mental retardation, diagnoses children with autism, and gets families the services they need.
The family of Nicholas Rotundo sought the hospital’s help, after their child, who started out as a normal healthy baby, lost his words just after his first baby. With an older sister diagnosed with autism, Nicholas’ parents had him evaluated.
At the Developmental Evaluation Center, a team of specialists from psychiatrists to occupational and speech therapists have worked with Nicholas and his family for two years.
Since opening in 1982, the Developmental Evaluation Center has specialized in evaluating children with complex developmental difficulties, including autism spectrum disorders. The center’s staff includes Physicians, Psychologists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Occupational Physical Therapists, Nurses and Special Educators.
Visit their website by clicking here to learn more.
