Support group has made life easier for families

A year ago, Sabina Childers could bank on dirty looks and snide comments whenever she took her autistic son out in public.

Because autism usually doesn't come with any kind of physical marker, most people just thought he was a spoiled brat instead of a child with a disability. Even when the Jackson mother explained that her son was autistic, most people didn't understand what that meant.

"With my son, at first I was afraid of everything about autism. It was hard going to the store because I just knew something would happen and everyone would stare and I would be embarrassed," Childers said. "The list of these fears can go on forever."

"I think most people pretend to understand, or at least they try to be a little more understanding, when and if I need to tell them. I appreciate the people who are at least willing to try. It is the people that prefer to judge and respond with unsolicited comments that I can live without," Childers said.

Much of the credit for the increased awareness and new services, parents say, goes to a group called Ethan and Friends and its founder, Mike Sciortino.

Sciortino formed the organization in January 2004. The Cape Girardeau man's grandson moved to Maine because the family couldn't get adequate services in Southeast Missouri.

"I am very thankful that there are people like Mike Sciortino out there. My family felt pretty alone when we first received our diagnosis," said Keri Rhodes, whose 3-year-old son Drew is autistic.

The Rhodeses, who live in Cape Girardeau, have been involved with the organization since last January and were able to find the therapy Drew needed thanks to Ethan and Friends' efforts to bring Applied Behavior Analysis to Southeast Missouri.

Nearly all of the 50-plus parents involved in the group can offer similar stories.

"It all started with one man asking for help. People responded to this and came together as a group, and as a group we asked again and again until we reached the right people and they responded by helping provide some of the supports that are so important in helping our children," said Childers.

"It seems that before everyone asked for help but, they were alone, one family at a time," Childers said. "Some might succeed and get the help they need, yet others might fail. The families together as a whole have made their voices be heard loud and clear, instead of one small voice at a time."

To spread awareness about autism, Childers is organizing a coloring contest for students in the Jackson School District to create a logo for Ethan and Friends. Their art will be displayed along with photos of local autistic children later this month at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

Want to know more?

For information about volunteering to work with autistic children, contact Ethan and Friends for Autism's organizer Mike Sciortino at jamessciortino@semo.net