Autism group celebrates Christmas together
Santa and one of his elves spent the day on Saturday with some very special children and their families.
Photos by Jana E. Pye
When your child has autism, attending a Christmas party may be something out of the question. Thanks to the planning of the Darlington County Autism Support Group, many young ones and their families enjoyed a very special party – with all of the children and adults dressed in PJ’s! – Saturday December 3rd at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Hartsville.
“We had things the children liked, but kept it low key,” said Allison Rowe, an autism consultant with the Florence Autism Division of the South Carolina Disabilities and Special Needs Board who is on the Darlington County Autism Support Group board as a professional representative. “This location was perfect as we had an access to an outdoor fenced in playground for children who wished to play outside.”
Children and their families enjoyed crafts, presents, delicious food, Christmas music and videos, and a very special visit from Santa Claus. Board members put out flyers with the Early Intervention and service coordinators with the Darlington County Disability and Special Needs, and on their Facebook and website to attract new families to their network of support.
“This day worked out really well,” continued Rowe. “People were able to come and hang out for a while, and parents had a good time. It gave them the chance to talk with other parents.”
Although the event was designed for children and young adults with autism, Rowe said that it is still a daunting task for some parents to want to undertake.
“Even though this was a safe event, it’s still hard for some parents to come to something like this.” Rowe said. “Initially, until they realize it’s okay. They realize… no one is judging my kid. No one is waiting to rush you out the door. It’s often hard for parents. We had several that didn’t come; one of the things I talked to Coretta we should do is to follow up on that. Just to say hey, we missed you; is there something we can do differently? Do you want to stay on the mailing list? Because oftentimes parents think, well no one cares if I don’t show up. It doesn’t matter. But to us, it does.”
Coretta Bailey, President of the group, has three of her four children on the autism spectrum. “They inspired me to have this support group,” said Bailey. “My children with autism are now 25, 16 and 13. It’s important for us as parents to be together, to learn from each other and to help the younger families.”
Bailey said that she was happy to see new faces at the event, and hopes to gain even more awareness in the county.
“We are now planning two events, one for Autism Awareness month in April, and another for all children with disabilities in October,” said Bailey.
Rowe added that although the party is wonderful for the families, it’s not so much awareness as the future plans. “It’s a big undertaking to do public events for awareness,” she said. “We’ve talked about a walk, but I am not sure we are there yet.”
Bailey agreed. “That is what we are looking for. We are trying to get the word out, and events like this are important because parents can’t go to other places with kids without disabilities. It keeps them from enjoying things, and keeps the family as well. Autism affects not only the child, it affects the whole family.”
One young mother, Zania Dunson of Timmonsville, is thankful for the support of the group.
“I found this on Facebook,” said Dunson. “I am new to the area, and I really needed help with setting up my son’s IEP meeting, and had so many questions. I’d be lost without help. This really helps.”
Dunson’s son, Princeton, is three years old. He is diagnosed with autism; his younger sister, Emerson, is a year old and does not have autism.
“Princeton was diagnosed when he was 26 months,” said Dunson. “I didn’t see any signs. He started declining when he turned about 16 months. Before that, he was walking and talking early, everything… meeting all his milestones. Then it just stopped.”
Princeton is enrolled in a 3K program in Timmonsville. As I spoke with his mother, he was fascinated with the CD/radio player, opening and closing the top by hitting the correct button, removing the CD carefully and putting it back in. He engaged a few times for the camera, then went back to his discovery of the workings of the device.
Princeton, age 3
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Dunson said that she has thoughts about the theories on what causes autism.
“Sometimes I do wonder about immunizations, because that’s when he started acting different. He started walking at 9 months – he was talking…I was even starting to potty train around 11 months. I have photos to show it all. When we moved here, he actually got double immunizations. When I moved they messed up and didn’t get his records, so he got double shots. That is what happened with him… and that’s when he started regressing.”
Dunson has seen some improvement with changing Princeton’s diet. “I am putting him on a gluten free diet soon. I noticed when I put him on lactose free milk it helped him, he started giving more eye contact. I’ve tried a lot of stuff, but as soon as I start changing his diet I’ve seen an improvement. He says ‘please,’ ‘Mommy,’ and starting to say more words like ‘car’… ever since he started school. He knows how to get what he needs.”
Another parent, Wendy Stokes, serves as the group’s Vice President/Co-Treasurer. Her son, Simon, is 12 years old and is very verbal.
When I asked if I could take any of the children’s photos, Wendy was quick to offer Simon. “He won’t mind a bit,” she said. “He’s really enjoying talking with Santa today.”
Simon, who is nearly as tall as his mother, was very interested in having a conversation with Santa Claus, and was completely non-plussed by the interruptions of the other children as he spoke to the patient Santa.
Allison Rowe confessed that Santa is her husband – who has taken on the job wearing the handsewn costume his late mother had made his Dad.. who had been the town Santa in Cushman’s Pond, Maine for many decades.
Rowe shared that was another thing that made the event a success. “It doesn’t matter that they are repeatedly talking to Santa, it’s okay,” she said, smiling as she watched Simon walk over for one more chat with Santa. “ Or, it’s okay if they don’t want to sit on Santa’s lap – that’s fine too. This is a Christmas party that is as much for the family as it is for the child.”
To find out more about the Darlington County Autism Support Group, visit their website: www.voices4autism.net or find them on Facebook. Contact them for more information on events or volunteering by contacting Coretta Bailey: Email coretta.bailey@yahoo.com, or by calling: 843-307-3386
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability. It typically appears during the first three years of life, which impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. These issues cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of function for children/adults.
ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. No two individuals are alike. Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language; difficulty holding a conversation; difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning; narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills’ and sensory sensitivities.
There is no known single cause or cure of autism, but increased awareness, early diagnosis/intervention and access to appropriate services/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes.
In March 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a report that concluded that the prevalence of autism has risen to 1 in 68 births in the United States.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism
•Not respond to their name (the child may appear deaf)
•Not point at objects or things of interest, or demonstrate interest
•Not play “pretend” games
•Little or no eye contact
•Want to be alone
•Have difficulty understanding, or showing understanding, or other people’s feelings or their own
•Have no speech or delayed speech
•Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
•Give unrelated answers to questions
• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
•Have obsessive interests
•Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
•Have unusual reactions (over or under-sensitivity) to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
•Have low to no social skills
•Avoid or resist physical contact
•Demonstrate little safety or danger awareness
•Reverse pronouns (e.g., says “you” instead of “I”)
•Laughing and/or crying for no apparent reason and includes showing distress for no apparent reason
•Uneven gross or fine motor skills
•Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
•Sustained odd play
•over-activity or under-activity
•Have extreme anxiety and phobias, as well as unusual phobias
•Line up toys or other objects
Other Symptoms:
•Hyperactivity (very active)
•Impulsivity (acting without thinking)
•Short attention span
•Aggression
•Causing self-injury
•Meltdowns
•Unusual eating and sleeping habits
•Unusual mood or emotional reactions
•Lack of fear or more fear than expected
•Have unusual sleeping habits
Darlington County Autism Support Group board members left to right: Allison Rowe, Autism Consultant; Wendy Stokes, Vice President/Co-Treasurer; Coretta Bailey, President; and Estelle Robinson, Secretary.