Gina


I don't know how or when the new awareness began. It may have had something to do with my friend Karen's Facebook status updates; they often refer to autistic kids. I believe she teaches them in the public school system. Then there is Lisa's Facebook updates; her daughter is autistic. Also there is the young son of a close friend who "might be kind of spectrumy." A family member married a man with a disabled child; it's not autism, but there are some similarities. Another dear friend shares stories about her autistic grandson. And, too, the girl at church who we've watched grow into a teenager.

So autism had moved off the back burner of my consciousness to something I was newly more aware of. It was almost as if I were getting ready for something.

When I was offered the job at the church, it was casually mentioned that during the week, the building was used by a small, private school. For autistic children. A population I knew virtually nothing about but was somehow newly tuned in to.

There are fourteen kids ranging from about 7 to about 16, I would guess. Two of them are girls. One of the girls is so impacted by her autism that she cannot spend more than five minutes or so in a classroom with other children. Sheis about eight and is taught in a room of her own, across the hall from my office. Her teachers, I am convinced, are saints. All day I hear them instructing Gina and offering positive reinforcement when she does well. She knows her own full name, the names of her family members and is working on her address. She knows numbers up to thirteen and some concepts such as "big" and "small." She knows colors. For doing her work and maintaining "quiet hands and quiet mouth," she receives stickers on a board, and when the board is full, she earns time to play with her iPad or play dough or a special treat from the kitchen. Some days she does very, very well. "Nice job, Gina!" I'll hear from across the hall.

But there are other days. The past week has been filled with extended periods of howling and shrieking and flailing about. When this begins, the teacher removes things from the little classroom until all that remains is the cushiony mats and the beanbag chair. The teacher must be protected from Gina's throwing things, the environment must be protected, and Gina herself must be protected.

Even on her good days, when walking from her classroom to the occupational therapy room or to the kitchen or even to the bathroom, one of her teachers holds her hand. All of the time. And the teacher wears a sweatshirt and sometimes shin guards on her arms because when at her worst, Gina has been known to bite.

Gina is my near neighbor and the person I see (and hear) the most of during my workday. I feel happy when I hear her identifying "13" or "green." I cringe when she has a tantrum, some of which have lasted up to an hour. We have some very limited conversations, Gina and I. With prompting from her teacher, on her good days, she will respond in kind when I say, "Good morning." On these occasions, I'm filled with delight even though deep down, I suspect she doesn't differentiate me really from a piece of furniture.

This little girl is very cute, and her mother dresses her beautifully. To take a first look at her, you would never know how complicated Gina is. When she is screaming and flailing, my instinct would be to put my arms around her and hold her tight. Which would be absolutely the wrong thing to do. For so many reasons.

I've learned a little bit about autism in the past couple of months. But there is a lot more ahead.

Comments

Barbara Anne said…
Oh, I had no real idea of the range of ways autism impacts kids and their families. These teachers are saints, indeed.

Since I pray for those whose names and needs I cannot know, I pray for Gina, too. May the key to opening these minds to understanding, knowledge, happiness, and peace be found.

Don't you wonder how Gina and all of the other Ginas would view a cheerful, colorful quilt, a black/white quilt, or a pastel quilt?

Group hug!
Anonymous said…
We have a group of women in our quilt guild that makes quilts for an organization that works with autistic children. The quilts are made from as many different types of fabric as possible so that every square has a different "feel" to it. They report that such a quilt is very soothing to the autistic child. The autistic person I know I've watch grow up from childhood. He's now in his early 40's, is a wonderful artist (pen and ink), has a job in a nursing home and is able to live alone. It's now possible to have a limited conversation with him. There is so much good locked up inside autistic children, it is wonderful when you see it freed!
Janet O. said…
We haven't even scratched the surface in understanding autism, have we?
This was a very touching post, Nancy.
Ah, there are millions of individuals living with the spectrum of autism in their lives: siblings, parents, extended family members, babysitters, teachers, medical people, friends, neighbors.

As Janet said we have so much to learn to help them navigate life on the best terms possible. I have a nephew in NC....
LizA. said…
I agree with Barbara Anne. These teachers really are saints. Autism is a tough diagnosis for families.
suz said…
you should check out this You Tube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xsfNrG5Bnw (it's labeled: Austic Girl learns to communicate using computer) - quite an insight into the autistic world. You're so right that these teachers are saints -
Quiltdivajulie said…
Our son is at the high functioning end of the spectrum -- even there, life can become awkward and difficult in a heartbeat. We know why ~ we continue to learn how best to cope.

I am grateful there are more opportunities for younger children than ever before . . .