The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will kick off Autism Awareness Month with the “Light It Up Blue” event Tuesday morning. Willie Price Lab School classes will hear a reading of Holly Robinson Peete’s book “My Brother Charlie” before children, parents, faculty and staff parade from Kinard Hall to the Circle.
“My Brother Charlie” is told from Charlie’s sister’s point of view and talks about how the family learns valuable lessons from Charlie, who has autism. The book will be read by Ole Miss offensive lineman Jordan Sims and linebacker Detric Bing-Dukes.
Kroger, R&R Bakery, The Cakery and Sugaree’s Bakery all donated snacks for the parade, and Square Books donated copies of “My Brother Charlie” to Willie Price Lab School, the HILL (Hearing Impaired Language and Literacy) Program, HILL Transition Laboratory School and the Lafayette County Public Library.
According to Children’s of Mississippi, Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disorder that impairs a child’s social interactions, communication abilities and behavior. The three main types of Autism Spectrum Disorder are Autism Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified and Asperger’s syndrome; however, there are also several other types of the disorder.
Gina Keene, certified speech-language pathologist and UM clinical supervisor, said one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism. Those who have the disorder will show symptoms differently.
“Autism is considered a spectrum disorder, which means that while there are certain diagnostic criteria, (it) will present differently in different individuals,” Keene said. “There will also be differences in the severity of those characteristics that individuals with autism must face.”
Communication Sciences and Disorders offers speech and language therapy to those with autism. Traditional speech-language programs are also available in a one-on-one setting. There are two children’s programs: HILL, for 3- to 5-year-olds, and HILL Transition, for 5- to 7-year-olds.
Keene said children in the HILL program have significant delays in language and receive intensive one-on-one therapy 12 hours a week. The HILL Transition program provides one-on-one intensive therapy for children in school to help them transition into a classroom setting.
Instructor and speech-language pathologist Amy Livingston said children in the transition program must have a documented transition difficulty.
“These transitions can be micro transitions, which are steps within an activity or between activities, such as switching between centers in a classroom, or macro transitions, such as between schools and home or between different therapists or teachers,” Livingston said. “Often, but not always, these children have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.”
Livingston said training graduate and undergraduate students to advocate and educate others about Autism Spectrum Disorder is a crucial step that helps students become skilled clinicians.
“Advocacy for our clients is part of our scope of practice as speech-language pathologists and audiologists,” Livingston said. “Training graduate students and undergraduate students to advocate and teach the community about (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is vital to becoming skilled clinicians.”
There is currently no known cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, children who undergo early intensive education can improve their ability to talk, play, learn and take care of themselves, according to Children’s of Mississippi.
Keene said autism should be the concern of everyone and that there needs to be more involvement in working with those who have the disorder.
“There is a shortage of qualified people, compared to the number of people needing services. We all can become more educated so that we can help support people and families that deal daily with the difficulties autism brings,” Keene said. “A kind word, a patient action or going out of your way to help families will go a long way to improving our community.”
