Sunday, April 20, 2003

By LINDA LISANTI
The Express-Times

GREENWICH TWP. -- Matthew Ruchlin sits at the picnic table behind his home with his teacher, Melissa Hoffman, learning new words with flash cards and basking in her continuous praises.

The 6-year-old wears a big smile that is infectious and Hoffman can't help but smile back.

Matthew's friends and family say he is just the happiest child -- but he wasn't always.

Two years ago, getting Matthew to just sit down was a challenge. That's when he was first diagnosed with autism, a brain disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships and respond appropriately to their environment.

For Matthew, it affected his ability to focus. In a room, he wouldn't look at the big picture, but at the details, and he easily became overwhelmed.

When he did focus, as when watching a video, Matthew would continue staring at a blank screen minutes after the tape had turned off.

With the help of one-on-one therapy, he has been able to overcome his disability.

But for autistic children who can't afford private therapy, the prognosis is not as positive.

The Ruchlin family hopes to change this system with the Matthew Ruchlin Foundation for Autism, which was created in August. Its mission is to support effective treatments for individuals with autism by lending monetary assistance to agencies who provide services to autistic persons and those who do research in developmental disabilities.

Matthew's father, Gary Ruchlin, said the idea for the foundation came to him while on a business trip in Los Angeles with a close family friend.

While golfing, his friend asked how Matthew was doing and what he could do to help. Gary Ruchlin replied that the family was lucky to have the means to get Matthew the treatments he needed.

"What happens to the kids who can't afford it?" his friend then asked. Gary Ruchlin thought hard about it. With that, the foundation was born.

Since the foundation began last summer, it has provided about $20,000 to various agencies. This month, it will give $10,000 to be split among four Newark families with autistic children.

Just because they can't afford to pay $100 an hour to a tutor for 40 hours a week and then spend $200 to $300 on supplies each month, Mary Beth Ruchlin said that shouldn't mean the children aren't helped.

Early intervention and intensive therapy are the only ways for autistic children to have a chance for a normal life, she said. Without it, very few marry, hold a job or are able to live without care. Some will never even learn how to speak a word.

"We want to help where it's needed," Mary Beth Ruchlin said. "Each child has different needs."

With about one in 100 children in the state of New Jersey affected by autism, she said that's a lot of children to help. The foundation is focused on fund raising. It is hosting a dinner dance and silent auction at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Ballroom of The Madison Hotel in Morristown, N.J.

Tickets are still available for purchase.

The Ruchlins hope the event raises at least $30,000. Half of the proceeds will go to special education programs in the Greenwich Township School District, the other half to the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community, where it will be given to more families.

For Matthew, the Ruchlins' hopes have changed since he was first diagnosed. Two years ago, his mother just hoped her son would say "mom."

Now, she is confident Matthew will be able to live independently and most importantly, be happy. He seems to already have that covered.

"No sad," he says whenever someone frowns.

With the help of Hoffman, Matthew is preparing to enter the first grade next year. He will attend regular classes with the help of an aide.

Hoffman said Matthew still needs to learn that he can't always do things the way he wants and that routines sometimes do change. He wants every day to be the same. It helps him to stay focused.

He also has a hard time understanding why other children don't follow directions as closely as he does. If the teacher tells his class not to run in the playground, he will tattle on other students.

It's not mean-spirited. For him, no running means just that, no exceptions, Hoffman said.

She said these are minor issues to overcome compared to what Matthew already has done.

"He has made so much progress," she said.

Gary Ruchlin hopes the foundation will help other autistic children to find the same success Matthew has.

"I want all of them to be there, too." To purchase tickets for the April 26 dinner dance or to make a donation to the Matthew Ruchlin Foundation for Autism call 908-387-1383.

Reporter Linda Lisanti can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at llisanti@express-times.com.