Gov. Holden declares April Autism Awareness Month

Cape Girardeau resident Sabina Childers has a special interest in the proclamation signed by Gov. Bob Holden last month declaring April as Autism Awareness Month.

Her son, Larry, began exhibiting autistic behavior at about 15 months of age. Just before his third birthday doctors in St. Louis officially diagnosed autism. Larry does not like to stay belted in his car seat, making the trip a challenge.

Childers said, "People are scared to say the word autism. Before we made the trip to St. Louis, they called it developmental delays. It's also hard to get appropriate services because of the cost."

Autism cannot be diagnosed through medical tests, but instead only by behavioral observations. It is one of the lowest-funded areas of medical research.

Childers said, "When I first found out my son had autism my thoughts turned to "Rain Man."

The movie portrayed only one autistic individual and lacked the broad spectrum of behaviors that make no two moments alike when living with someone who has autism. Childers said, "They can just suddenly forget how to climb stairs."

Emergency help

Giving emergency response workers relevant information about autistic individuals is a major goal in promoting Autism Awareness Month. Informing emergency workers about what may upset and calm an autistic individual may be helpful in an emergency. Recognizing autistic behavior and knowing contact approaches can minimize risk to the autistic individual or to those intervening.

Because autistic behavior varies in individuals, it's difficult to predict how an autistic person may react in a crisis. Many can't identify themselves or explain what's wrong. Their disability may not be immediately apparent to others because there are no identifying physical characteristics.

Police, firefighters and the general public may expect responses from the child or adult with autism that they may not be capable of making. Typically, children and adults with autism lack an understanding of danger.

Childers commends Larry's teacher at South Elementary, Carrie Holland, as well as his music therapy teacher at Judevine Autism Project, Kelly Pujol. "Larry loves to sing, but can't talk." Using words in a functional way is a challenge. Information is instead communicated through the use of pictures.

One effective method used is the applied behavior analysis method. It teaches a child to perform simple tasks step-by-step, like washing hands, using positive reinforcement. Childers said, "Those teachers have nerves of steel."

Cause of autism unknown

Brandie, Larry's five-year-old sister, is also part of the teaching team. "She has probably been the single most important person to keep him from completely and totally withdrawing from everyone. She is constantly demanding his attention and won't let up until he gives it to her. He may be screaming and crying but she is still dragging him along saying, 'Come on, play with me.'"

No one knows what causes the brain development disorder, but one popular school of thought concerns childhood vaccinations. Compared to children born in the 1950s who received three vaccines before the age of 2, children nowadays are receiving 22 vaccine doses before that age. If a child receives a vaccination that contains mercury, which is used in a preservative called thimerosal, it is considered risky since exposure can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism. Although the association between thimerosal and mercury poisoning was not proven, thimerosal was taken off the market.

It is also extremely important to never have a child vaccinated when the child is sick or has any sign of immune system dysfunction such as a cold.

Genetic predestination is another school of thought for the cause of autism.

"If I had to do it over again, I'd forego the immunizations," said Childers.