SHEFFIELD, Mass. – The Autism Treatment Center of America is offering a free 25-minute phone consultation for parents seeking help and guidance in raising a child with autism.
The center grew out of the experience of famed
authors/teachers Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman when their son,
Raun, was diagnosed as severely and incurably autistic. Instead of
institutionalizing him as the experts recommended, they designed an innovative,
home-based, child-centered approach, which successfully reached their son.
From a little boy who was mute and withdrawn wioth an
IQ of less than 30, Raun was transformed into a highly verbal, socially engaging
youngster with a near genius IQ. He subsequently graduated with honors from
Brown University and is now an international lecturer on autism and a teacher at
the Autism Treatment Center of America.
After publication of the best-selling book Son-Rise:
The Miracle Continues, recounting their family's story, and an NBC-TV
award-winning movie based on the book, the Kaufmans were flooded with requests
for help. The Autism Treatment Center of America was the result, and since 1983,
The Son-Rise Program has helped thousands of families from around the country
and the world. Parents and professionals from 66 countries have come to the
Berkshire campus to learn to implement The Son-Rise Program with their children
and patients.
"The foundation of The Son-Rise Program rests
upon this idea: the children show us the way in and we show them the way
out," said Raun K. Kaufman. "This means that, rather than forcing
children to conform to a world that they don't understand, we begin by joining
them in their own world first, before asking them to join us in our world. We
find that children consistently look at and interact more with people when they
are sincerely joined in their repetitive activities. We are teaching these
children the very skill they lack: how to create relationships by building on
common interests. In this way, we establish a mutual bond and connection. This
bond – this relationship – becomes the basis for teaching skills and
inspiring growth."
Recently, the Journal of the American Medical
Association cited a 10-fold increase in autism over the previous decade.
Confirming this sharp rise, the U.S. Department of Education said that autism is
increasing at the rate of 10-17 percent per year and has projected a total
population with autism of four million Americans by the next decade.
Autism is a complex developmental disorder, with
symptoms and characteristics that can range from mild to severe. Some common
behaviors are little or no language; lack of eye contact; tantrums, repetitive
behaviors; and withdrawal from human contact with a preference for interacting
with objects rather than people.
Parents wishing to take advantage of the free
25-minute phone consultation can call the Autism Treatment Center of America at
1-877-SON-RISE (877-766-7473), or visit the website at www.son-rise.org to
arrange for an appointment. The Autism Treatment Center of America is a division
of The Option Institute, a nonprofit, federally tax-exempt charitable
organization.
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