April 5, 2006

OWU Students Help Autistic Children, Parents

Jack Knall, son of Mark '94 and Shannon Leary '93 Knall, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder two and a half years ago. More than a dozen Ohio Wesleyan students are helping central Ohio families who are in situations similar to the Knalls.

"Autism is scary, especially when you hear the word in relation to your child and you have no idea what it means," says Shannon Leary Knall '93. Two and half years ago, her son Jack was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

"The problem with autism education is that the spectrum is so broad it is sometimes hard to define. Now, two years later, I have a better understanding, but when Jack was first diagnosed it was very overwhelming.  I call it the black hole of autism." This has led Knall to embark on an educational campaign about autism.

However, a dozen Ohio Wesleyan students and numerous families throughout the greater Delaware area do not need Knall's experience to be reminded of the needs of autistic children and their families. They live the experience every week.

"It is a great learning experience," says Ohio Wesleyan senior Seth Evans, who spends about nine hours a week during the academic year and 25 hours per week during the summer working with special needs children. "But, more than that you become part of their family — I still get baby pictures of a family I used to work with. So you not only learn about working with autistic children, but also about family dynamics and how families interact in a way that you can't see with your own family because you are too close."

The experience has grown to a dozen students by word-of-mouth. Students tell the tales of working with children and interested students find families via word-of-mouth advertising, the Daily Bulletin, or Web sites like ABA Connections. There is no formal University role in this endeavor. However, Dr. Richard Leavy, professor and chairperson of the psychology department, is working to change that by compiling a list of students interested in working with autistic children and families looking for help.

"I learned of the program from another student," says Evans, who is considering a career in child psychology. "She told me about the great experience she'd had and I started looking for my own family to work with." And this past semester, sophomore Angela Javorina contacted Evans about working with a family.

Javorina quickly found a family with two children on the spectrum and two neurotypical children. "I am really interested in the family aspect of psychology," says Javorina, who would like to become a family counselor. "This opportunity is providing me a lot of insight into family dynamic and interaction. Many families who seek counseling have been through a crisis. While this family is not currently in a crisis, the family's dynamics would show it has been through something." 

The education students receive for working with the children depends largely on the child's parents. "In the first family I worked with, the education began with getting the child acclimated to a new person - me," says Evans, a psychology and English double major. "Then it moved on to introducing new programs and different concepts. I did a lot of reading and watching videos. I had to go through a two-week training program for the Franklin County Board of MRDD and become certified in CPR and first aid for another family."

For Javorina, the change is also one in pedagogy. "We are using verbal behavioral analysis, which is more about getting to the correct answer than getting it right. It works on verbal skill and the give and take of conversation. You're giving these children the life skills they need to survive and it gets scary sometimes when you fall behind or they are struggling with a section," the psychology major and sociology and fine arts double minor says. "It is really amazing how much the children know, especially in the areas they excel. However, sometimes getting them to play a new game or do something outside of their normal routine is tough."

Educating the general public about autism is at the forefront this month as the nation celebrates National Autism Awareness Month throughout April. Among the statistics:

• Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, and form relationships with others.
• One in five people have a family or friend affected by an autism spectrum disorder.
• Today, autism occurs in about one in every 166 births.
• Statistics, from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, show autism rates are growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year.
• Autism occurs at a rate higher than any other childhood disease including cancer and diabetes. Yet, it still receives the least amount of funding.

Jack, the five-year-old son of Mark '94 and Shannon Knall, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in December 2003.  He can count to 2,000 by 2s, 5s, and 10s. He can also recite the entire life cycle of a monarch butterfly. However, like many people with autism, Jack has sensory integration disorder, which makes him hypersensitive to light and noise, often rendering him completely incapable of functioning or interacting with others. 

Shannon is putting her Ohio Wesleyan experience of community service and social learning to use educating people about autism. "It is about awareness and tolerance of those who are different," she says.

"It is amazing what Ohio Wesleyan students are doing in this area. They are bringing awareness to the issue and that makes me proud to be an OWU alumna."

— Toby Boyce

Shannon is organizing a walk to benefit Autism Speaks on June 11 in West Hartford, Conn. Ohio Wesleyan alumni and friends interested in helping can call Shannon at 860-217-0440 or contact her via e-mail at sknall@mac.com or visit Autism Speaks to find opportunities to become involved in your local community.