April 13, 2018 at 4:24 p.m.
Central School recognizes Autism Awareness Month
Central School recognizes Autism Awareness Month
By Kayla Thomason-
The school regularly observes Autism Awareness Day but this was the first time they planned an entire week of activities.
"I think (the teaching material is) very age-appropriate and some good engagement, allows good discussions, and depends on the classroom too, because some of the classrooms who maybe have students with autism see it from a much different lens because they've been and they've worked with each other side by side this year," JWMS principal Paul Johnson said.
Special education teacher Cathy Rogich interviewed several general education teachers who were presenting the curriculum and learned there is a lot of engagement between the general education students and those with autism.
"Sometimes we assume that they know things because they are around these kids a lot, but they really don't and even the adults pick up on some stuff that they didn't even realize was important to understand," she said.
Overall, Rogich said she felt the material was well-received.
"The general impression I got from everybody was extremely positive and empowering, I think especially for the kids who have autism because they felt a sense of pride this week," she said. "It was really cool."
She was a bit bummed out that a snow day shortened the length of time they had to go over autism with the students, but was ecstatic they had more than one day to tell the students about autism.
"I think that there's so much to explore and just knowing that half the population they say doesn't really know what autism is," she said.
Rogich feels it's important to explain autism to students at a young age as they will carry it forward as they grow.
"I hope that they can be our little diplomats going forward and sort of spread the word," she said, adding that it's important for students to understood the diversity of the human race.
"I think the event is much needed and maybe it should be done twice a year, if we could get it at the beginning and end, just to see how things progress over the year," Rogich said.
Pearl Fessenden is the mother of two children with autism. Matthew attends Central Intermediate School where he has cultivated a special friendship with Violet Biolo, a fourth grader.
Violet and Matthew's story is very special, Fessenden said. They met last year and instantly bonded. Fessenden was unaware of this bond until she attended a school concert. Matthew started to become overwhelmed from all the lights, sounds and she braced for a meltdown.
"I'll never forget it, Violet reached out and put her hand, waved it in front of his face for a minute and he looked at her, and she put up her hand and he gave her a high-five and he instantly calmed down, and it's been that way ever since," she said. "Their friendship is one of pure caring and innocence and it's the vision that I have for all children with autism to have with their peers, that is the vision that I have for every kid to have with their friends."
According to Johnson, Matthew and Violet will be in the same class next year.
"It'll be good for Matthew to have her, but then, because they'll get a lot of different classmates, they can see and learn from Violet," he said.
Biolo and another peer, Isabel Hartman, assist Matthew with reading and writing when he needs it.
"We help him if he needs it and we play with him," Violet said.
Isabel hopes others will learn to be nice to others who have autism.
"No matter how different you are they're still people and you should still be nice to them," Biolo said.
Isabel thinks it's important that everyone is made aware of autism.
"It's very important because some people don't really know about autism as much as other people do," she said.
Fessenden is grateful that Central Intermediate School dedicated a week to discussing autism.
"I think it's of the utmost importance," she said. "I think as children get older they need to be introduced and exposed to autism. I think it's very important for them to know that there's going to be kids that are a little different and it's OK for them to still be their friend."
When asked what she would like the public to know about autism, Fessenden said she wanted to clear up some misconceptions.
"I would like them to know that it's nothing from poor parenting, I would like them to know that it is a medical condition that the kids can't choose, the parents don't have a say in it," she said, adding that she thinks it's important for the public to understand and be compassionate and accepting of the families with children who have autism.
"I think inclusion, I can't stress that enough, inclusion in the community and in the schools, and I know Rhinelander does a phenomenal job of including these children in their classrooms and getting the kids to understand that 'they're just like you, they might just operate a little different," she explained.
Brittany Bex has four children, two of whom are being watched for autism. One is 9 years old and the other is 4 years old.
Her 9-year-old will be going to Central Intermediate next year and she thinks it's wonderful that the school is committed to autism awareness.
"I think, like Pearl said, it's very important. It helps raise awareness so that it brings acceptance to these kids," she said. "If they're stimming like hand flapping or having a hard time with loud noises in the gyms and need earmuffs like my daughter does, or anything like that where it's not usual behavior, they see it and they think 'Oh, hey, I know what that is, that's not that unusual."
Broad world of autism
There is a broad spectrum of diagnosed autism-related conditions, both mothers noted. Some children with autism will hardly speak while others will talk nonstop.
"Just like that saying goes, 'If you've met one child with autism you've only met one because every single one is different, is as unique as a snowflake," Fessenden said.
Bex and Fessenden's daughters love big cats while Matthew sees the world in numbers.
"He associates everything, whether it be a license plate, he knows whose car is what based on the numbers, his bus route he knows based on the numbers, addresses of people where they live - he knows not their name but he knows them as their numerical address," Fessenden explained.
Individuals with autism see the world differently, and they express themselves differently than others.
"A lot of the times you will see the behaviors of screaming and crying and hitting and it's not because they want to do it, it's because they have no way to express themselves," Fessenden explained. "Imagine loosing your voice and not being able to move your mouth and not being able to make facial expressions and somebody hurt your feelings and you didn't know what else to do but to pound the table or have the tears come down. It's the only way sometimes that they can communicate."
"It is hard with my 4-year-old, he is the one we really think has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) because he's very limited on what he likes to talk about and you can't really veer from those subjects without him getting mad," Bex added, noting that strangers occasionally have strong reactions to her son's behavior and can be judgmental.
"Yes, he's 4 years old, going to be 5 years old, and still needs to be in a stroller because he'll run off," she said. "There's been judgment from other parents 'He's old enough to walk, why do you have him in a stroller?'"
She said she keeps the boy in a stroller or on a backpack leash because he's prone to running off and she has three other children to keep an eye on as well.
While adults often focus on the unusual behavior of children with autism, Fessenden said she wishes more people understood how wonderful and sweet individuals with autism can be.
"He's just so innocent and so caring and so loving and it's all the kids with autism are that way, it's just getting to know the world from their view," she said of her son.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
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