Autism is not the final word (Click image to enlarge)

According to the latest statistic, 1 in 150 children in America have autism. In the Seventy’s the number of children with Autism was 1 in10,000. There is no consensus in the scientific community for what causes Autism or why there has been such a huge increase from the Seventy’s to now.   One thing is for sure though, the parents of autistic children are not content with waiting twenty years for a consensus. 

            If the national statistic is correct, it is quite possible that there are 100 children in Breathitt county with autism.  I am the parent of one of those children.  My son’s name is Jonathon.  Jonathon seemed like a normal baby until after about 2 years old.  At this point he regressed until he had no language and was totally withdrawn from everyone around him.  One time, our family decided to go play at a local park.  Jonathon loves the park.  There were two other children playing as well.  Jonathon followed them around and did his best  to play with them.  But they could not understand him and left him behind.  Jonathon began to cry in desperation.  It broke my heart.  This was one of the last times that Jonathon would attempt to play with another child his age.  

Autism is not the final word (Click image to enlarge)

          Five years have passed.  Painful memories still exist.  Question of why still loom.  Jonathon is still autistic.  But something has changed.  My wife and I have progressed from shock to blame to focusing on recovery.  Surprisingly, we have discovered that recovery is not something that needs to occur only in Jonathon, but in us as well. After much research and attempting different kinds of therapy, we discovered the Son-rise Program at Autism Treatment Center of America. (the website is autismtreatmentcenter.org)  This program is unique in so many ways.  The Autism Treatment Center’s strategy is to first deal with the attitude the parents have toward their autistic children and then to provide the tools necessary for the parents to direct their child’s Son-rise Program.

            The Son-Rise program is a home based therapy that utilizes what is called a “play room.”  There is only two people in the play room, the autistic child and whoever is working with that child.  The therapy is “child-centered” and based on play.  We have been doing our program for a little over a year.  Jonathon has made so many changes. His eye contact has improved dramatically.  He interacts with us much more.  Jonathon was at one time completely nonverbal, but now he is beginning to tell us what he wants.  We are learning to love Jonathon because he is our son.  We live for the moment with Jonathon and not for the future. Every small step is a giant victory.

            However, there is one thing of which we are in great need. Volunteers!  In order for our program to be highly effective, it depends on the efforts of an entire team of caring adults.  If you are interested in volunteering your time or would like more information about this type of therapy, please call Jason smith at 606-653-3830 or email jsmith@kmbc.edu.