Going to church on Sunday is a challenge for Casey McCormick's family. Her 4-year-old son, Patrick, "won't last more than five minutes" sitting through the service.

Patrick has autism - a developmental disorder that impairs social interaction, limits communication abilities and often makes people overly sensitive to their environment.

The boy is among a growing group: Autism affects one in every 150 American children and almost one in 94 boys, according to the Autism Society of America.

About 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder, the complete name of the disability that afflicts people in varying degrees, the Autism Society of America estimates.

"It's an interesting disability because it shows itself in different ways with different children," said Laurie Trembley, Patrick's special education teacher at the Terence K. McAteer Family Resource Center on Hoover Lane, Nevada City.

Some of the children Trembley works with are able to make a familial connection with their parents and siblings, she said. Yet other autistic children withdraw from their environment to the extent of not talking.

The family's struggle

What's common to most people with autism is the struggle their family members face communicating with them.

"Patrick has some challenging behaviors, which is the most difficult thing to deal with," McCormick said. "Well-meaning family members of autistic children may think observing their behavior that they need more discipline. They do need boundaries, but it's not what a typical child would need."

When Patrick was 2, he was referred by his pediatrician to special education services at the Family Resource Center.

"He wasn't pointing to objects to draw attention, or waving good-bye or hello," McCormick said. "He wasn't pulling us over to show us things. He also didn't have imaginative play, so if you gave him a plastic kitchen set, he wouldn't pretend to cook or eat. He would throw it over the balcony all over the back porch."

Today, Patrick attends preschool classes from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Family Resource Center, McCormick said. In addition, he gets 12 to 13 hours of service per week at home from behavioral analysis experts from a Citrus Heights-based autism support program called Learning Arts, she added.

On a weekday morning, it's not unusual to find Patrick sitting with a group of children his age in a room full of tiny plastic chairs and toys at the Family Resource Center preschool, singing along with songs that teach him the months of the year, the days of the week, the weather and how to greet people.

"These are not naughty children," Trembley said. "What I've learned is that there's so much you can do with the environment to help support their needs."

A sudden change in the daily routine can upset a child with autism and prompt him to throw tantrums, Trembley added.



Treatment

There's no cure for autism, experts say. Some people, including McCormick, think it's genetic. Others believe vaccines administered to their children triggered the disabilities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has however reported no link between autism and vaccinations and emphasizes the heightened risk of diseases without immunization.

"Some parents are going down the biomedical route to change the chemistry of the body (of autistic children) through diet and supplements," McCormick said. But her family hasn't opted for such treatment, she added.

Special education classes help autistic children "to have skills to access the world so they are successful," Trembley said.

After all, it's the lack of social skills that ultimately impacts an autistic person the most, Trembley said.

"As children grow older, any kind of (behavioral) difference can become more of an issue," Trembley said.

To contact Soumitro Sen, e-mail ssen@theunion.com or call 477-4229.



Services for autistic children

in Nevada County



Infants to 3-year-olds can receive home-based infant program support operating out of the Terence K. McAteer Family Resource Center, 400 Hoover Lane, Nevada City; 265-0611.

For 3- to 5-year-olds, the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools Office offers special day classes at the McAteer Center.

For children above the age 5, special day classes, speech therapy, occupational and behavioral therapy classes are available at schools throughout the county.

Source: Tommie Conlen, Nevada County Infant program teacher at the Terence K. McAteer Family Resource Center