Autism mysteries remain, but therapy delivers real success

When people first hear about 7-year-old Jesse’s experience with autism, it sounds pretty impressive that he’s gained the ability to mingle with big crowds at school assemblies and casually join conversations and games with other kids.

For those closest to Jesse, it may be an even bigger deal that these once-unthinkable activities are now so utterly routine. Just two years ago, Jesse found it a challenge just to comb his own hair and brush his teeth.

Shared credit for Jesse’s turnaround goes to his family and school support systems and to Easter Seals of North Texas, which administers the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Autism Program in the area.

The Autism Program, created in 2007, is a small but important state response to autism’s status as the fastestgrowing developmental disability in the United States. Through regional providers, it targets kids 3-8 as soon as possible after diagnosis, then works to reduce symptoms that impair learning and socialization.

Along with other DARS services for younger children, it provides not only direct help to kids like Jesse but also information, counseling and resources to families and schools.

Based on applied behavior analysis for each child, the Autism Program’s local providers develop a treatment plan. Services, such as psychiatric testing, hearing evaluation, behavioral analysis, socialization therapy and one-on-one educational assistance then can be delivered as needed.

A Major Challenge

There’s a widespread need for these services. Autism and autism “spectrum” disorders, such as Asperger’s Syndrome, may affect as many as 1 in 100 children. About 50,100 Texas kids are believed to have autism or a related disorder.

Although interventionbased programs at DARS and elsewhere have impressive track records, recent studies document a rise in autism diagnoses worldwide. Clear reasons, however, still elude researchers.

While the search for a breakthrough continues, collaborations between public agencies, school systems, social workers and private treatment programs can offer crucial assistance to families affected by autism.

Terry Beattie of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, whose stepdaughter has autism, says her emotional outbursts and withdrawal as a child have largely been overcome through a blend of professional speech and occupational therapy and “people just being patient and working with her.”

Now a young adult, she converses freely with strangers and enjoys many social activities.

Another success story is Chance, who joined the DARS Autism Program as a 3-year-old who couldn’t tolerate the level of touching required to get a haircut. Today, he participates in a growing list of family activities, including baking cookies with his mom.