Despite the challenges that come along with having autism, many people on the autism spectrum have gone on to become some of the world’s greatest inventors, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, and more. Brilliant people like Bill Gates, Isaac Newton, Barbara McClintock, and many others are proof that autism does not have to be a barrier to success. As we celebrate National Autism Acceptance Month in April, it is important for us to understand the challenges that people with autism face, create a culture of belonging for them, and recognize their tremendous achievements and contributions to society. United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) partner agency Illinois Center for Autism is on the frontlines of the mission to help people living with autism realize their full potential. Their efforts help people reach their highest level of independence in their home, school, and community. We spoke with Troy Metheney, Executive Director of the Illinois Center for Autism to help us better understand the obstacles that come with living with autism and how their organization helps.
Can you explain what autism is and some of the symptoms associated with autism?
Autism is a developmental disability that is typically diagnosed in children between the ages of 3 and 8 years old, sometimes later than that and very rarely earlier than that. It is characterized by a few things – you’ll see an inability for some children to engage in joint play.
A classic example that’s used is if you have kids that are in a sandbox, it may look like they’re all playing together, but the kid who has autism may be sitting in the same box with the other kids, but is not interacting with them or appears to not even be aware that they are there.
You’ll also see repetitive movements in some kids, and uneven intellectual development – kids may have a heightened focus in one particular area that could be dinosaurs, trains, or artificial intelligence. In fact, some of the most successful individuals in the world have autism because they were able to have a hyper focus in a specific area.
There are different symptoms for autism between boys and girls, right?
Yes, there are differences in symptoms normally displayed. Four out of five individuals diagnosed with autism are boys and the current belief is that it’s in part because a lot of the diagnostic criteria is around social skills. Boys with autism tend to not be as social, but girls with autism tend to still engage in more joint play, more social activity, so they don’t check as many boxes on the diagnostic criteria. Girls who are diagnosed with autism tend to be diagnosed at an older age because it is harder and takes longer to detect.
What does the Illinois Center for Autism do to help people living with autism?
The Illinois Center for Autism tends to serve individuals who are on the more extreme impacted end of the spectrum. We have three primary programs – we have a school program that works with children referred to us from 21 different area school districts. We serve about 45 adults diagnosed with autism- helping them to develop life skills and vocational skills every day.
Then we have a Client Family Support program that works with over 300 families to help them identify what services their loved one needs, and how to access, fund and coordinate those services.
In many ways, our Client Family Support Program is our most important piece and an area where United Way is a key part of what we do. This program is where a significant portion of our United Way contributions end up being directed. United Way makes it possible for us to be able to answer the call when people are reaching out just looking for a lifeline, like how to get their child diagnosed, where they have to go to get that diagnosis, or referrals for things like local dentists or doctors. United Way is a big part of making that community-based outreach and support possible.
Why is it important for us to recognize and celebrate National Autism Acceptance Month?
Anytime we can raise awareness with people who live in our communities and neighborhoods about autism and spark that conversation about how we can all support people who are autistic is important because that is where it starts.
During Autism Acceptance Month, we’ll have 15-20% more phone calls from families with a child whose never been diagnosed than we would in a typical month. People will read something like an article about autism and it’ll prompt them to think, “I wonder if…”, and then they’ll call us and then we can point them towards how they should start getting that initial evaluation done to find out whether or not our organization is something that they would benefit from.
UWGSL is proud to support the Illinois Center for Autism as they work to empower our local neighbors battling the challenges that come with autism. This collective effort will ensure the people served feel supported, empowered and provided with the resources necessary to overcome obstacles and live a fulfilling life. Monthly observances like National Autism Acceptance Month remind us of how important our safety net of 160 nonprofit partners are. Support for UWGSL makes for a healthier St. Louis region where our neighbors can look forward to a brighter future.
Take action now:
- Learn more about how we are empowering independence for people living with disabilities.
- Share this story with family and friends.
