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Panel continues to explore autism in Missouri
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By Betsy Taylor
Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS - When Taylor Crowe was diagnosed with autism as a 4-year-old, his doctor suggested his parents institutionalize the child. The doctor said the boy would never have friends, never hold a job.
But on Friday, the 26-year-old autistic man offered such compelling testimony before a state panel examining autism disorders in Missouri that hundreds in the audience broke into applause.
While Crowe received some specialized education, his parents also tried to keep him in mainstream classes and educate other children about how to interact with him.
“Being around other kids taught me how to be a kid,” Crowe said. He literally learned how to interact socially by watching other children.
“If people with autism are surrounded only by other people with autism, they are learning about how to be autistic,” he said.
Crowe has received his animation degree from the California Institute of the Arts, and he's now collaborating on a children's book about an autistic child.
At a time when it's believed one out of every 150 children in the nation may have an autism disorder, Missouri is examining its response to autism and how to improve services.
Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, created the blue-ribbon panel and asked Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, to be its chairman.
The panel met at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Friday. A report is due Oct. 31 from their hearings around the state, though Rupp said he is seeking more time. Legislators could use the findings to craft new laws related to autism.
Autism, a neurological disorder, can affect a person's ability to communicate or form relationships. Autism disorders are marked by a wide range of behaviors. Some autistic people insist on sameness or have difficulty communicating or socializing.
Crowe's father, David Crowe, said the approach taken with Taylor isn't right for every autistic child, and that education and services should meet specific needs of each autistic person. “We're not talking about autism here, we're taking about autisms,” he said.
Those giving testimony before the panel spoke to a host of issues. They included better research, better screening to lead to earlier diagnosis and better services for children, adolescents and adults with autism.
They talked about the need for better places to house the autistic, both in short-term crisis or for long-term care. Speakers stressed issues like education and training that can help some autistic people hold jobs or be more self-sufficient as adults.
Two who work in the field of autism -clinical psychologist Janet Farmer and pediatrician and child psychiatrist John Constantino- spoke about a voluntary national register through the Interactive Autism Network that's working to accelerate autism research by linking researchers and families.
They proposed developing a system in Missouri to cross-reference information about the autistic by linking their medical, mental health, educational findings and other records while maintaining privacy for the individuals involved.
“If we had a way to cross reference this information, and analyze it, it would have major implications for health policy in Missouri,” said Constantino, who works at Washington University.
Farmer, director of the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said a “children's data warehouse” has been proposed in Missouri, but the project has not received funding.
But on Friday, the 26-year-old autistic man offered such compelling testimony before a state panel examining autism disorders in Missouri that hundreds in the audience broke into applause.
While Crowe received some specialized education, his parents also tried to keep him in mainstream classes and educate other children about how to interact with him.
“Being around other kids taught me how to be a kid,” Crowe said. He literally learned how to interact socially by watching other children.
“If people with autism are surrounded only by other people with autism, they are learning about how to be autistic,” he said.
Crowe has received his animation degree from the California Institute of the Arts, and he's now collaborating on a children's book about an autistic child.
At a time when it's believed one out of every 150 children in the nation may have an autism disorder, Missouri is examining its response to autism and how to improve services.
Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, created the blue-ribbon panel and asked Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, to be its chairman.
The panel met at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Friday. A report is due Oct. 31 from their hearings around the state, though Rupp said he is seeking more time. Legislators could use the findings to craft new laws related to autism.
Autism, a neurological disorder, can affect a person's ability to communicate or form relationships. Autism disorders are marked by a wide range of behaviors. Some autistic people insist on sameness or have difficulty communicating or socializing.
Crowe's father, David Crowe, said the approach taken with Taylor isn't right for every autistic child, and that education and services should meet specific needs of each autistic person. “We're not talking about autism here, we're taking about autisms,” he said.
Those giving testimony before the panel spoke to a host of issues. They included better research, better screening to lead to earlier diagnosis and better services for children, adolescents and adults with autism.
They talked about the need for better places to house the autistic, both in short-term crisis or for long-term care. Speakers stressed issues like education and training that can help some autistic people hold jobs or be more self-sufficient as adults.
Two who work in the field of autism -clinical psychologist Janet Farmer and pediatrician and child psychiatrist John Constantino- spoke about a voluntary national register through the Interactive Autism Network that's working to accelerate autism research by linking researchers and families.
They proposed developing a system in Missouri to cross-reference information about the autistic by linking their medical, mental health, educational findings and other records while maintaining privacy for the individuals involved.
“If we had a way to cross reference this information, and analyze it, it would have major implications for health policy in Missouri,” said Constantino, who works at Washington University.
Farmer, director of the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri-Columbia, said a “children's data warehouse” has been proposed in Missouri, but the project has not received funding.
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