Staff Photo by: Darcie Thom
Brenda Pedscalny, representative of the Autism Resource Centre, visited the Kipling High School to present a seminar for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Staff Photo by: Darcie Thom

Autism Spectrum Disorders - A whole new understanding
By: Darcie Thom

A common misunderstanding has placed Autism in the same category as Asperger Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, when, in fact, they couldn’t be further apart from each other.

The community was invited to be involved in an educational seminar led by Brenda Pedscalny, a Senior Consultant and representative of Autism Resource Centre, on June 4th. The staff, and members, of the Autism Resource Centre help to teach some of the basic life skills, to people who have been afflicted, that so many of us take for granted.

The students, who range in different disorders (along with a wide range of severity), are taught how to survive in this confusing world that we all live in. They are shown how to cope with their drawbacks and how to move forward with a sense of fulfillment and pride, learn skills that apply to everyday life and are given the opportunity to progress past their disorders.

“Ten years ago, people didn’t want to deal with these disorders, they would say ‘Put those children in an institute and lock them away’. It goes to show that we were lacking the education for these disorders,” says Pedscalny.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are described as a Bio-Neurological Disorder, a disorder that interferes with the development of the brain. This pervasive, individualistic and Life Long battle affects 1 in 160 people (all race and creed). Surprisingly, these disorders are 4-5 times more likely to be found in boys.

“When you have met one Autistic person, you have met one Autistic person. Every person is different and unique in their own way,” stated Pedscalny.

Most of the evening was focused on Autism and Asperger Syndrome, the two more commonly known, and frequently confused, disorders. A visual was used during the seminar to show both sides of the umbrella spectrum called Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD). This is the spectrum that individualizes the disorders Autism, Asperger Syndrome, PDD NOS, Retts Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

Children are diagnosed because of different forms of behaviors. A Psychiatrist or Psychologist is usually present and determines the strain and type of disorder. Children, as young as 18 months old, can be diagnosed with these disorders and some are not diagnosed until the later stages in the teenage years. Unfortunately, the disorders are not the only burden to these children. Many, if not most, suffer from depression (due to teasing and stress), anxiety, Seizures and/or Epilepsy, Sleep disorders, Gastrointestinal Disorders and/or numerous Allergies and Sensitivities. Sometimes a child experiences pain from a simple touch, or sensitivity from sound or light, and of course there is always the school bullies who run them down by teasing and demeaning their character.

“Because a person (with any kind of disorder) can talk, does not mean that they can communicate their issues and pains,” states Pedscalny.

A person with Asperger Syndrome can appear to be ‘average’ to most and are often confused with being a bad child because they have the capacity to process everything like an ‘average’ person. This is where the teasing and demeaning of character really cause problems for these people because they are simply thought of as bad, when the sad reality is that they are in need of great understanding. People in this situation often find themselves in a lot of trouble, very lonely, depressed and most don’t get the help that they need.

“They don’t get the shades of gray, they see black and white,’ says Pedscalny, “if you don’t want to hear the truth, you’re better off not to asking for their advice!”

Autistic people are quite the opposite of those with Asperger Syndrome. Many of these people are unable to take in and preserve the knowledge that is taught to them. In many cases, a person with Severe Autism may be able to build blocks and color a picture, but will probably have a hard time with communication and life skills. This is where the training, at the Autism Resource Centre, helps the person afflicted and their families to better understand the disorder.

“Good structured programs, for at least 20 hours a week, are recommended for people with these disorders, we work on life skills, being positive and working toward a goal in life,” says Pedscalny in regards to the goals at the Autism Resource Centre.

The ultimate goal for the Autism Resource Centre is to see the students leave with an understanding and somewhat educated mind of what it takes to survive in this world. Pedscalny spoke about how hard it is to ask someone (with disabilities) to accept the confusing and delusional ideas that ‘average’ people accept every day. There are so many double-standards in our lives, we smile but it doesn’t always mean we are happy. We cry in sad and happy times, we yell in anger and in excitement and we have rules but are allowed to break them sometimes. How does this make any sense? When the idea that a smile should mean happiness and tears should mean sadness, this idea makes more sense, this is how an Autistic and Asperger person thinks. “Try telling someone how they are supposed to deal with our socialization, it’s complicated and doesn’t always make sense,” says Pedscalny, “Us neurotypical people are weird, we have weird relationships. We are too complicated; sometimes they just want to be alone because it’s easier for them to be alone”.

The training and steps provided to help these students are great learning tools for all people. They can teach us to accept another person’s disabilities and even how to deal with rough spots in their lives and in our own lives. Many parents would learn how to cope with their children and their needs in different ways, because just maybe, the situations are just black and white.

When you meet a person with disabilities, give them the chance to touch your life in a positive way, help them to know that they do exist and that they can be heard.

For further information, please visit: www.autismresourcecentre.com.