Published: April 21, 2009 11:02 pm      

Autism task force to seek expanded services for victims

Numerous fundraisers scheduled in the region

ASHLAND — Services for children and adults with autism are few and far between, a situation a new group hopes to change.

The Pathways mental health services organization has created an autism task force to research the needs of the autistic and their families and to seek out services to help them, Stacey Figley, Pathways autism coordinator, said.

Formed in January, the task force includes mental health professionals and parents and family members of autistic persons.

April being autism awareness month, Figley wants to get the word out about the group.

Among its first projects is a needs assessment, which it will use in developing new programs and services for those with autism.

Autism is a disorder of the brain characterized by social impairment. Some autistic persons are severely impaired while others can care for themselves and live independently.

Existing services for those with autism include speech, physical and occupational therapy, available at Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Figley said. What is less available is on the mental health and mental care side as well as specific training for parents, she said. Not many in the area are trained in autistic services.

The dearth of services may result from lack of awareness. Autism has only recently come to the forefront of discussion of mental health.

“Autism is so new and it’s becoming epidemic,” said task force member Shannon Gulley, a Pathways case manager whose own 2-year-old daughter has disorder.

Assembling a body of knowledge about autism is “a daunting task,” Gulley said. Autism is not a cookie-cutter disorder — “Every single person with autism is completely different.”

The spectrum is wide and each patient has different needs, she said.

The task force also wants to help families with their needs, Figley said. Among those needs are family and marriage counseling — divorce rates among parents of children with autism are much higher than average. Families also need support groups and teachers need specialized training.

The task force will need money to implement new programs; some of it will come from grants. Fundraisers will account for more.

Gattiland restaurants in Ashland and Morehead are helping out today. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m., for each customer who mentions the task force, the restaurants will donate 20 percent of their check to the task force, Figley said.

Also, there will be a consignment sale at the beginning of next month. Those interested need to fill out consignment packets.

Task force members will distribute the packets Thursday at the Kyova mall or at any Pathways office.

Proceeds from the sale will be divided with 60 percent to the consignor and 40 percent to the task force.

Pathways has a facility in Greenup the task force will be able to use to locate services until it can get a facilities grant for a better location, she said.

One local autism authority has high hopes for the task force.

“If it will bring awareness to the area it could bring resources for these kids,” said Carla Malone, a Ponderosa Elementary teacher who coordinates the autism program in the Boyd County school system.

Malone takes the long view and worries about what happens to persons with autism once they’re out of her care. “What about when they age out of school? What resources do they have then?”