kids with autism

Last week, I read an interesting article in the newspaper about a family with a child with autism who was asked to stay away from their local church's services. There were a variety of opinions expressed by parents of children with autism regarding this event. Some parents felt that this kind of behavior on the part of the church was discrimination, and particularly galling because of where it was coming from; some felt that it was irresponsible of the family to take their child into a setting which is known to be challenging.

I spent a summer working at a camp for people of all ages and abilities with autism. I also worked in a group home for five men with autism and did some research on the topic. Having experienced the enormous range of abilities or disabilities, I was wondering what I would have done in the above situation. My gut reaction would be to find a church that had a service that was perhaps adapted to my child, and such a church was mentioned. I think I would be hurt that my family was rejected. Then again, some of the behaviors associated with autism can be very challenging to handle in public. And, they are not always predictable. I remember very clearly on a Saturday taking one of the group home residents to see a children's movie, an activity he loved and had worked hard to earn. When we got to the theater, there was a line to buy tickets, and my friend/charge absolutely went ballistic, throwing himself on the ground in the parking lot, swearing (fortunately he was very difficult for most people to understand!), and kicking. This was completely unexpected. I was able to calm him down eventually, get him to come with me to the car, and we came up with another outing where an outburst would not be quite so embarrassing. However, he was allowed to earn another outing to a movie and did quite well. All of us at the group home would have been very sad to take this activity away from him.

I loved my time working with this challenging population of people, and I still enjoy the children with autism that I have in my practice. But I have to admit that it is one of the most difficult diagnoses to deal with as a physician, as an early interventionist, as a caregiver, and I'm sure as a parent.