MBRACINC UTISM

by Kimberly Horg-Webb

Two years ago Sacramento

parents Kevin and Lorna

Miller heard the most devastating news of their lives. Their only child, Ross, then 3'/, years old, was diagnosed with autism (POD-NOS to be exact). Hope returned the day a friend mentioned the Son-Rise

Program. That chat would change their lives forever.

In February of 2009 the Millers boarded a plane to Massachusetts, Center of America

where The Autism Treatment and education their kids.

is located. The center is home to the Son-Rise Program, a treatment on the autism spectrum by teaching

model that helps children

parents new ways of relatingto

"We are already seeing miracles happen," says Lorna. Since starting the program, band have seen dramatic they have seen Ross-who improvements

she and her hus-

in their son's behavior and abilities, but even more importantly, one very happy boy.

used to be such a miserable little guy-become

Ross can now handle the transitions anywhere

of goingto

different

places whereas before it was difficult

to go

with him. He used to refuse to let his parents play with him, but now he wants to play, not only or answer them. Now

with his parents, but with other children, too. Ross also never used to ask questions, he asks who, what, where and those infamous why questions (all the time).

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Mom says Ross used to have about 90 percent echolalia (automatically repeating words he heard from people or his books and videos). That has gone down to just
10

percent, and he is starting with his parents on

to have conversations a regular basis.

Since that first visit forthe

Son-Rise

Start-Up Training, the Millers have traveled back to Massach usetts fou r ti rnes, for one week of training each time. Lof~a says, "It is a program developed by parents for parents, and it is amazing!"

REACHING "UNREACHABLE" KIDS

The Son-Rise Program was created in 1974 by Barry Neil Kaufman and his wife, Samahria Lyte Kaufman, to recover their severely autistic son. The program empowers parents to act as the key teachers, therapists and directors of their own programs and utilizes the home as the most nurturing environment in which families can help their children. "One of the main educational techniques of the Son-Rise Program that differentiates it from other autism treatment modalities is 'joining,''' says William Hogan, Senior Son-Rise Program Teacher and Trainer. He explains that when they are involved in their exclusive and repetitious Son-Rise parents learn to

joiningmeans

"enjoying and imitating a child (or adult) behaviors." So, instead behavthat of stopping a child who is rocking, hand flapping or repeating certain sounds,

join their

children in those odd, self-stimulating

iors. Hogan says joining continues until the child gives a cue to the facilitator they are now ready to interact.

While Lorna and Kevin were in their own classes at the center, Ross spent nine hours a day playing games with Hogan and other certified facilitators and senior teachers. The family saw his average interactive attention span double in that first week. The Center also tracked Ross and gave them a comprehensive assessment of where he was on the Son-Rise Developmental Model, which continually helps them make decisions about Ross's program goals. Each evening, his

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parents would then go in the playroom with him and practice what they had learned throughout the day.

The couple also learned how to create a solid learning environment traction-free for Ross at home. "We have a designated, displayroom in our home where Ross and his team play with him;' says Lorna. "It is there

of v olunteer facilitators

where we join him in his exclusive or repetitive behavior." The Millers now use Ross's own motivations to challenge

him each day and help him grow. For instance, his favorite shows include Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryand Sesame Street, so his parents bring a variety of related games, inciuding"Help Elmo Find His Blankets;' into his room to help flexibility, and facilitate socialization skills, communication,

interactive attention span. Ross also loves reading, writing and drawing, so the family does a lot of that in the playroom. Even though Ross has made some huge improvements, the Millers decided to home-school him. They'll do a full-time Son-Rise Program (50 hours a week). "He already reads at a first-grade level and is academically ahead of kindergarten level," says Lorna. But before she puts him in a school environment,she wants to be sure Ross is "socially ready for it!'

Lorna says that by deepening understanding

her

of what Ross was doing and

why, she has learned how to relate to her son in a whole new way. It allowed herto love and accept Ross for exactly who he is. That whole-hearted acceptance is reflect-

ed in the name of her blog: "Lorna Loving Autism." You can check out her posts at MiracleForRoss.com/lornalovingautism.

Lorna urges other parents to visit the Autism Treatment Center's website and check

(AutismTreatmentCenter.org) out the resources

posted there. "I'd like is an alter-

other parents to knowthatthere native out there;'

she says. (Parents can to talkto a family

also call 877-766-7473 counselor week-long

or learn about the different programs.)

"It truly has helped me come to peace with Ross's diagnosis;' be incredibly says Lorna, "and to "

hopeful about his future."