Grade A Questions

I’m helping an undergrad prepare a term paper on “family intervention” (does that include Merlot?) and its “positive effects” on autism. The report aims “to inform people about autism and ways family intervention help it.”

That help is a sound theory, at least until Alex’s parents start screaming. We intervene with Alex when needed: pick up toys; sit with us through family events and not run off to the TV to blast Elmo; stop at the edge of the curb; please someday eat more real food.

This student is questioning a friend with autism, in addition to, among parents, at least Jill and me. Her topics will include the definition, symptoms, history, and prevention of autism (ah, youth — good luck with that last one!), then flow into how families can help their own kids.

We help Alex any way we can think of, which often and sadly isn’t much, and I’ll loudly echo Jill here in saying that Alex has become superb at setting a table – handles of the coffee cups all pointing the same way! And, once cranked up, he puts laundry away with the best of them. He also seems to want to fly into putting placemats in the dinner table, though he doesn’t seem to want to eat with us.

Among the student’s questions:

Does family involvement help ease the symptoms of autism? (My answer: “Sometimes. Some people in social settings can have a hard time understanding Alex and his behaviors. Sometimes it’s easier having both me and my wife to help directly with Alex, though that can also cause strain as we might differ on how best to handle a situation.”)

How do you feel your other son has helped ease Alex’s adjustment? (A: “Alex’s teacher says that not long after Ned started taking Alex’s hand at home and getting him to play, Alex started taking the hands of his classmates in school, trying to get them to play.”)

And what I think is the big one:

Do you think that with awareness, society will learn to accept those with autism? (A: “Someday. Before then, however, a big bill may come due as these children age into adulthood.”)

She wanted me to explain that. I will soon, but I’ll start by referring readers to the link below.

This project gives me hope in that a person barely out of high school is weighing such potentially society-shaking issues as autism (and considering a career helping the autistic). I did my term paper on Trafalgar. Look where it got me.

Reprint of a Washington Post article on the potential price tag of autism among adults here.