AUTISM FIRST STEPS
AUTISM DAILY NEWSLETTER    
Wednesday, November 21, 2001 
SPECIAL EDITION
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BOSTON  Herald
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 o 50 CENTS
NET LIFE

While remembering the advent of the PC, it seems the more things change; the more they stay the same.
Page 38 Lifestyle
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 BOSTON HERALD       37

 

PHOTO BY MARK GARFINKEL
Scaling Walls

ATTUNED TO LIFE: Stephen M. Shore on the flute plays a duet with his wife, Yi Liu , on harp at home. Shore uses music in his work on autism.

Scaling walls Brookline author's autobiography helps families cope with autism
by AZELL MURPHY CAVAAN

For the first 18 months of his life, Stephen Shore of Brookline developed much faster than most toddlers. But one day, seemingly out of nowhere, something changed.
``I lost my ability to speak,'' said Shore, who is now 39. ``I became tantrum-prone and generally unaware of the environment around me.''
Shore remained non-verbal for two years.
It was a bizarre change in activity for the toddler who began amazing his family by turning over in his crib at just 8 days old. And it was also the beginning of a new life.
As an adult, Shore would devote his life to tearing down walls meant to bar people like him - people diagnosed with autism - from mainstream society.
In his recently published autobiography, Shore, a college professor, professional

Professor challenges perception of autism

From preceding page

lecturer and doctoral candidate, provides an account of the daily challenges people with autism face as they live, work and love in an often complex and confusing world.
The book, ``Beyond the Wall - Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome'' (Autism Asperger Publishing Co., 2001), is his way of giving back, Shore said.
``I've received a lot of help from people and I know there are others on the autistic spectrum who want to learn more about the disorder,'' said Shore, who was diagnosed with atypical development and strong autistic tendencies at age 2.
Autism is a developmental disorder of childhood that affects approximately one in 500 children.
The disorder interferes with development of the brain, including those areas that regulate reasoning, social interaction and communication.
Asperger syndrome, a milder variant, is similar to autism, except children who have it possess well-developed language skills, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Growing up with either disorder and living with it as an adult can be difficult if affected families are not well-informed, according to Shore.
``There's a stigma because it's an invisible disability,'' he said. ``People sense something's wrong but they can't quite figure out what it is.''
Today Shore is married (his wife does not have autism), teaches at several local universities, lectures throughout the country, and is working on his doctoral degree in Boston University's Department of Special Education. He is also president of the Asperger's Association of New England.
Despite all of that, he struggles with his disability daily. Reading non-verbal communication cues in subtle social situations is often taxing, he said.
``If someone is looking at their watch constantly while I'm talking, it may take me a while to figure out it's time to change the subject or let them talk for a while,'' said Shore. ``But I've gotten much better at
PARTNERS: Stephen Shore and his wife, Yi Liu relax in their Brookline apartment.  Shore is an advocate for people with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome.
reading body language over the years.''
Cultivating relationships with mentors and reading about his disability have helped Shore develop coping mechanisms to function normally in the world, he said.
And he has devoted his life to helping others like him reach their goals, too.
``He's a staunch advocate for proper treatment, education and employment opportunities for people with high functioning autism or Asperger syndrome,'' said Arnold Miller, director of the Massachusetts Language and Cognitive Development Center, who encouraged Shore to write the book.
A college professor of special education, math, computer technology and music, Shore said he combines his professional and personal experiences when working with people from ages 2 to 40 who have autism.
Jeanne Willig of Cambridge, whose 35-year-old son has autism, learned of Shore and his work over the Internet and immediately signed her son, Mark, up for sessions.
``He's able to hold Mark's attention and get him going,'' said Willig, who also uses art therapy for her son. ``There have definitely been changes in Mark and he especially loves singing with Stephen.''
An accomplished musician, Shore often plays musical tunes as a way of connecting with children whose autism makes it difficult to communicate orally.
``Music talks to a different part of the brain than does oral communication,'' Shore said.
``One kid couldn't say a word but had 100 songs stored in his head. Music became his means of communication.'' Interpret disorder's nonverbal signals

Autism, a developmental disorder that affects one in 500 children, often goes undiagnosed until late preschool age.  The following questions might help identify whether your child should be screened for autism.

Does your child:
o Not speak as well as her peers.
o Maintain eye contact.
o Remain unresponsive when his name is called.
o Act as if she is in her own world.
o Seem to "tune others out."
o Remain unresponsive to smiles.
o Prefer hand gestures to oral communication.
o Have difficulty following simple commands.
o Prefer to play alone.
o Play with toys in an atypical fashion.
o Show an attachment to inanimate hard objects instead of soft ones (for instance, a flashlight or chain rather than a teddy bear or blanket).
o Have unusually long and severe temper tantrums.
If you suspect your child may have autism, contact the Autism Society of America at (800) 328-8476

Information provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Stephen Shore can be reached at Tumbalaika@aol.com

To order  the book:    Beyond The Wall Online:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931282005/qid=1004566194/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/102-6756329-4329754
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