By Cris Italia
Lauren's gorgeous big blue eyes make anyone forget that she suffers from Autism, a developmental disability that has grown over 120 percent in the last five years. Most children with Autism or developmental disabilities suffer from severe language delays, communication and social skills.
When her daughter was just over two years of age, Elie began to realize that her child was just a little off. Lauren began to tantrum quite often and her language skills were not where it should have been. It was almost as though she was in her own world, Elie remembers.
Moving to Oceanside from Manhattan, Lauren had been enrolled in a local camp where, for the first time, Elie was informed that something was indeed wrong. They told me that she was speech delayed and that I should have her evaluated by a doctor, Elie said. It never crossed my mind that she might have Autism. Elie says that at the time she knew little of the disorder and thought of the movie Rainman and an episode of the T.V. Show St. Elsewhere.
I remember watching an episode and one of the doctors on the show had a child with Autism, but even then I didn't think Lauren was anything like either of the two characters.
Elie didn't take the persisting problem seriously. She did feel that Lauren needed a significant program, but wasn't sure exactly what she needed. By now Lauren had started pre-school at the Crossroads. At the school, Elie was told that her daughter might have Autism. After that I sort of spent a year denying that she might have this, Elie said.
After an evaluation from a Manhattan doctor, Elie was worried that her child could not complete the evaluation in the manner of a normal child. After I saw what they expected her to know, I knew she would not be able to do it, Elie said.
Lauren was placed in a program at Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park. In the program, Lauren would waiver back and forth. As with many children who are afflicted with a developmental disability, their progression can take a few steps forward one month, but take several steps back the next month.
Elie had heard of a program at Oceanside's kindergarten center in School 6, but was skeptical at first. It was a new program, so it was a little scary, Elie said. Even with hesitation, she felt that bringing her child close to home would be a benefit. The class consisted of children all afflicted with a developmental disability and was supervised by a teacher with experience. I thought it was great that the school district was trying to keep these children with in district.
Now Elie says it has been the best decision for her daughter. She has had a good year and there is a mutual respect between Elie and the school district. In class Lauren received various forms of therapy: occupational, speech, physical and behavioral. The class also uses a very effective technique that focuses on controlling behaviors.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focuses on teaching a child self-help skills. ABA teaches children and gives them the ability to behave and interact appropriately and constructively without supervision from others. With control over her behaviors, Lauren has now turned to inclusion, which allows her to spend part of the day in a regular kindergarten class.
It's amazing for me to see her progressing like this, Elie said. At the birthday party, Lauren just fit right in. For the first time I wasn't worried about telling people she had Autism, I didn't have to.
Many parents are not as vocal as Elie is, and she wasn't always this way either. Her hope is that Lauren can be as normal as she can be. We feel that she will be a child that will be something in life, and we are committed enough so that is a reality, Elie said. I'm not just going to be known as a parent with a child that has Autism.
Parents should keep an open mind, Elie said of parents who are scared to admit their child's disability. There is a help out there and there are ways for children to function at a high level. They should listen to what the professionals are saying.
Lauren is a high-function child that has come a long way. Bring it on up, Lauren bellows as she completes writing a number on the blackboard. At school she learns language-by-numbers, just one of many techniques used to treat the disability. She enjoys her activities during occupational therapy, most of all she likes bouncing on the trampoline.
