Breaking autism’s barriers in Hammonton

By PETE McALEER Staff Writer, (609) 569-7483, E-Mail

HAMMONTON - When Frankie Mullen smiles and says "hello," it's not necessarily a greeting.

Sometimes "hello" is his way of halting communication to avoid doing something he doesn't want to do.

Sometimes there is no meaning attached to the word at all.

Frankie is a 3-year-old Linwood boy with blond hair and blue eyes and a smile that belongs on magazine covers. Autism confines his world.

Like so many diagnosed with the disorder, Frankie struggles to communicate. He speaks out of context and distracts easily. Routine tasks - such as touching - can disturb or intimidate him.

Therapists at Wawa House South in Hammonton help Frankie expand his world.

Kendra Warren holds a lollipop in her hand and opens her mouth wide so that Frankie will do the same. Once Frankie tastes the lollipop, Warren puckers her lips and, in an exaggerated voice, says "mmmmm."

For most children, the sound is a natural reaction to tasting something sweet. Autistic children need to be taught to make the connection.

Later, the sound of a musical toy startles Frankie into covering his ears. He jumps from laughter to tears with little warning.

"Frankie, look at me," Warren says, smiling as she lifts the boy's chin to establish contact. "Do you want a cookie?"

When Frankie does not react, Warren guides his head in a "yes" motion and asks again. This time, Frankie shakes his head up and down. Warren claps and grabs Frankie's hands to help him clap with her. Then she quickly jots down a note on a chart and moves to the next exercise.

The session goes like that for an hour. Warren performs a simple task and tries to get Frankie to repeat it. Sometimes Frankie follows along. Other times his attention drifts and he avoids eye contact or gets up and meanders about the room.

Frankie's mother, Eileen, sits a few feet away and observes. Frankie runs to her when the session is over.

"All done," he says, repeating Kendra's words.

After just his third visit to the Wawa House, Frankie is making progress.

"I can tell he's acclimating," Mullen says.

Working with parents is one of the keys to success for the young children at Wawa House South. Parents can either watch the sessions from inside the room or through a glass partition, so their child can't see them. Each session also is videotaped.

"We want parents to observe what we're doing and carry it over at home," said Wawa House South Director Beth Lieberman. "A couple of hours a week won't work."

Eden Family of Services opened Wawa House South in Hammonton last July. It is the group's second facility since opening in Princeton in 1975.

The Hammonton office opens at a time when the number of autistic children in the United States is rapidly increasing. Less than 10 years ago, just one in 10,000 people was diagnosed with autism. Now, autism affects one in 150 children and more than 3,300 children in New Jersey. Time magazine recently charted the growth of the disorder in a cover story.

At Wawa House South, there is one full-time and four part-time instructors. An initial diagnosis is made for all patients to establish individual goals for the one-on-one counseling sessions. The personalized programs are crucial, since any two autistic children can exhibit opposite symptoms.

Data is kept during each session and the program changes once a child masters a task for three consecutive visits. The sessions last from one to three hours, but the activities move quickly with breaks scheduled often. On the second floor is a playroom with a trampoline, a large ball used for stretching and a sandbox filled with macaroni, rice and beans.

"It's a good way to introduce textures to those who don't like it," Lieberman said. "For those who do, this is a favorite activity."

While the program is for younger children, Eden Family Services also owns a Cape May beach house for its adult program. But since autism is usually diagnosed by age 3, early counseling is important. For children like Frankie Mullen, the program is an opportunity to get a head start in a lifelong battle.

To e-mail Pete McAleer at The Press:

PMcAleer@pressofac.com