Finding
Help and Hope
Paul
Adolescence was a good time for Paul.
He seemed to relax and become more
social. He became more affectionate.
When approached, he would converse
with people. For several months, drugs
were used to help him control his
aggression, but they were stopped
because they caused unwanted side
effects. Even so, he now rarely throws
or breaks things.
Two
years ago, Paul's parents were able
to take advantage of new scientific
understanding about autism, and they
enrolled him in an innovative program
that provides full-time support, enabling
him to live and work within the community.
Today, at age 20, he has a closely
supervised job assembling booklets
for a publishing company. He lives
in an attractive apartment with another
man who has autism
and a residence supervisor. Paul loves
picnics and outings to the library
to check out books and cassettes.
He also enjoys going home each week
to visit his family. But he still
demands familiarity and order. As
soon as he arrives home, he moves
every piece of furniture back to the
location that is familiar to him.
Alan
The summer Alan was 6, after years
with no
apparent progress, his language
began to flow. Although he reversed
the meaning of pronouns, he began
talking in sentences that other people
could understand.
Now
age 13, Alan has lost his constant
obsession with lights, returning to
it only when he feels stressed. He
often burrows under a heavy pile of
pillows, which seems to relax and
comfort him. His fits of anger occur
less often, but because he is bigger,
he reacts with more force. Every now
and then, he goes out of control,
kicking, hitting, and biting. Once,
at a shopping mall, he threw a tantrum
so severe that his mother had to hold
him down to control him.
At
the same time, he has successfully
made the transition to middle school
and he is learning more quickly than
before. He seems more aware of his
surroundings and remembers people.
He still doesn't play with other children,
but often sits watching them from
a window. It's as if he has become
aware that he is different. He also
seems more aware of his own emotions
and at times he says quietly, "You
sad."
Janie
Today,
at age 4, Janie is enrolled in an
intensive
program in which she is trained
at home by her mother and several
specialists. She is beginning to show
real progress. She now makes eye contact
and has begun to talk. She can ask
for things. As a result, she seems
happier, less frustrated, and better
able to form connections with others.
She's also begun to show some remarkable
skills. She can stack blocks and match
objects far beyond her years. And
her memory is amazing. Although her
speech is often unclear, she can recite
and act out entire television programs.
Her parents' dream is that she will
progress enough to enter a regular
kindergarten next year.
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