How Autism is Affecting our Community

April is here and though its arrival was not very spring like, most of us don’t really care, because it marks that we’ve survived one heck of a lousy winter, and warmer, sunnier days are ahead. 

That’s not all April stands for however. It’s also an important marker in the world of our special needs community. April is Autism Awareness month and our tight-knit community of Narragansett is fully embracing it.

The latest statistics cited on AutismSpeaks.com show that autism affects one in 110 children, and one in 70 boys! More staggering data reveals that autism is now more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism. Government statistics suggest the prevalence rate of autism is increasing 10 to 17 percent annually.

Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself during the first three years of a person's life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the person's communication and social interaction skills.

People with autism have issues with non-verbal communication, a wide range of social interactions and activities that include an element of pretend play.  Autistic Spectrum Disorder is a wide-spectrum disorder. This means that no two people with autism will have exactly the same symptoms. Some people will have mild symptoms while others will have severe ones.

On April 10, the Autism Project is hosting their Ninth Annual Imagine Walk and Family Fun Day for Autism at Goddard State Park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in conjunction with National Autism Awareness month. 

The walk is followed by a family fun day event that features an assortment of free activities designed for children and teens with autism, including a reptile show, karaoke, an obstacle course, a bounce house, face painting, arts and crafts, and more.

The Annual Imagine Walk is always a highly anticipated event for those families who have children or relatives affected by autism but it is also a very important event for teachers and other professionals who work directly with autistic children. 

Krystal Cagnon, a resource teacher at the Pier Middle School who does interact with some of our autistic population on a daily basis, is organizing the Narragansett Team in hopes of raising funds to help send teaching staff and families to some amazing workshops that would otherwise not be possible within the regular school budget.  

“There are new learning strategies happening on a very regular basis that can aide us as teachers as well as the student’s families to assist autistic children of all ages adapt better in their environment and become the most successful individuals that they can be,” Cagnon said. “If we can raise the funds to attend even one of these awesome workshops, we might be able to change the lives of these students for the better and for a lifetime!”

Here’s how participating in the walk on the “Narragansett Team” can help:

If the team raises $1,500, the school district earns one free professional training slot for ASpire or A Starting Point.  We can earn one more spot for each additional $1,500.

• A Starting Point Description: A nine-week training series for parents and professionals teaching and raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder. The series provides valuable information in a supportive environment where audience participation is welcome. The series is supported by both a parent of a child(ren) with autism and a professional.
• Aspire Description: A five-week training series designed for parents and professionals working with individuals with Asperger Syndrome. The program helps to teach parents and professionals about the unique characteristics and learning styles of persons with this disorder. 

Elizabeth Pinto, the administrator of Student Services in the Narragansett School District, shared some insightful information on how autism is affecting our school community and their families. She also provided some helpful strategies for those of us who would like to reach out and understand more about a disorder that can certainly be devastating but does not have to be a death sentence. 

Cheryl:  How many children in our district are affected by autism/ASD and are we servicing them here or out of district?

Beth Pinto:   Narragansett currently has 19 students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders that qualify for special education supports. 10 of those students are educated at our 3 schools and 9 are in out of district placements.

Cheryl: What type of information can you share with our community about how Autism affects those who are diagnosed and how, as a school system, we are helping them in preparation for their role in the community?

Beth Pinto: The most valuable information people could learn about children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is that many grow up to be productive members of society. There is hope. Though the diagnoses can be devastating, the variance of strengths and challenges affecting those diagnosed with Autism are as varied as in the general population who are not diagnosed with Autism. Outcomes range from students attending college and working to needing support 24 hours a day to live and work. Each person diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is unique.

Currently the thinking is that Autism is a social communicative disorder. That means that folks have some degree of impairment interacting with the world and often misunderstand communication both verbal and nonverbal. Though there can be a great variance in functioning, characteristics of people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorders could be shared with participants in the training. Understanding characteristics can at times increase tolerance and acceptance of challenges that are witnessed. Strategies that have been proven successful, like visual supports, environmental structures and schedules, could be shared.

Cheryl: How could these workshops such as A Starting Point and Aspire directly benefit families?

Beth Pinto: The Autism Project workshops have been helpful to hundreds of families over the years. Often the workshops are taught by family members which lends a legitimacy to the strategies and an understanding of the challenges implementing structure in a family’s home. For some children having family members and school personnel in the same room hearing the same information at the same time has made a world of difference and improved the outcomes for the individual.

Cheryl: What are some helpful facts or strategies for families that would like to know more so they can help those in the community that do have an autistic child? For example – How can they respond or react if they see an autistic child doing something unusual so they could help rather than stand by and stare?

Beth Pinto: Early identification and early access to supports makes a world of difference. Contact Early Intervention for children under 3 years of age and the school department if children are 3 or older. Call your family doctor and discuss the concerns.

• Avoid demanding eye contact. This is not necessary and could increase anxiety.
• Using literal language may be helpful and keep words to a minimum.
• Some broad brush guidelines: Spoken language should not be overemphasized. Use picture cues or written words.
• Give time to process verbal directions. Pause and don’t add any spoken words.
• Calm demeanor is always helpful.

Cheryl: Is there any other information you would like to share with others in regards to our special needs population here in the community and how our district is trying to help both in and out of school?

Beth Pinto: This school system treats children with an Autism Spectrum disorder as individuals with unique strengths and challenges. We are trying to meets children’s needs and as we increase our supports in district we also recognize that at times there are needs for more intense supports than we can provide. We try to partner with families who are really the experts in knowing their child and listen respectively to the challenges and successes experienced.

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There is a parent support group sponsored by the Autism Project on the second Wednesdays of each month in the Pier Middle School media center.

If you would like to make a donation you may visit the “Narragansett Team” fundraising page here. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to help with our fundraising efforts.  

For more information about the Imagine Walk, contact Krystal Cagnon at kcagnon@narragansett.k12.ri.us.