FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
— SPOTLIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH —
The Autism Spectrum
BY SUNNY WERNER
Sunny@TheBakerCountyPress.com
As described by the
Mayo Clinic, “Autism
Spectrum Disorder is a
serious neurodevelopmen-
tal disorder that impairs
a child’s ability to com-
municate and interact with
others. It also includes
restricted repetitive behav-
iors, interests and activi-
ties.
“These issues cause
significant impairment in
social, occupational and
other areas of functioning.”
As any parent of a child
with autism will tell you,
“If you have met one child
with autism, you have met
one child with autism.”
Autism presents in as
many different ways as
there are people who are
affected by it. Societal un-
derstanding of people with
autism has improved dra-
matically with the efforts
of assorted groups such as
Autism Speaks and the Na-
tional Autism Committee
to increase understanding
of the disorder.
However, mere knowl-
edge that there is a disorder
and a general understand-
ing that people with autism
act in ways that differ from
society’s standards does
not prepare the general
public to deal with those
who have autism.
Autism spectrum disor-
der (ASD) is now defined
by the American Psychiat-
ric Association’s Diagnosis
and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM-
5) as a single disorder that
includes disorders that
were previously considered
separate—autism, Asperg-
er’s syndrome, childhood
disintegrative disorder and
pervasive developmental
disorder not otherwise
specified.
The term “spectrum” in
autism spectrum disorder
refers to the wide range of
symptoms and severity.
On one end of the spec-
trum are people who might
have some milder social
disabilities, some less in-
tense behaviors, an ability
to interact with others in
more socially appropriate
ways than others who are
further toward the other
end of the spectrum.
Some people with ASD
are exceptionally intel-
ligent. Many have spe-
cialized interests or skills
which far outreach those of
average people.
There are lists of famous
people who had, or are
suspected of having, a
diagnosis on the autism
spectrum.
At the other end of the
spectrum are people who
are completely non-verbal,
unable to communicate
without the help of assis-
tive devices.
Some are combative.
Some are unable to live
without full-time assis-
tance, and need round the
clock staff available to
meet their needs.
Some families have
more than one child with
autism, and each child may
be totally different in their
needs and skills.
The stresses on the fami-
lies of children with autism
are immense, however
many children they have.
Siblings must learn to
live with their sibling’s
behaviors, and the reac-
tions of schoolmates and
neighborhood kids.
Parents must spend extra
time helping their child
with special needs, and
obtaining the best therapies
and interventions is time
consuming and can be
frustrating.
The entire family is
involved in obtaining the
help needed, and this can
put severe stress on the
children who don’t have
special needs.
For all this, often chil-
dren who have siblings
with special needs are able
to be accepting and loving
towards their brother or
sister, and can be great
resources throughout their
lives.
Unlike children who
don’t undergo these stress-
ors, the hardships can build
strong character and teach
hard lessons that others
may never learn.
Parents who include their
children in their routine
trips into the community
must prepare themselves
for the reactions of others.
Most parents have
experienced difficult situ-
ations with their children
in public, but parents with
kids on the spectrum must
steel themselves for any
and everything.
Just seeing a toy or
desired item can be enough
to send a child with autism
into a state of increased
autistic behaviors, includ-
ing the inability to move
on without the item.
Tantrums may occur,
along with screaming,
hitting and out of control
running.
These behaviors are not
the same as a two year old
who is having a temper
tantrum.
The reactions of others
can make the situation
more difficult for both par-
ent and child.
Judgemental statements
and disapproving looks are
of little use when a par-
ent is trying to help their
child regain a state of self
control.
The best response for
a bystander is to remain
quiet and, once the parent
is able to hear them, ask if
there is anything they can
do to help.
Autism is better under-
stood now than in previous
years, but the actual cause
is still unknown. Many
theories exist, the major-
ity of which have been
dismissed or disproved.
There is a large con-
tingent who believe that
autism is caused by the
combination vaccines that
are administered typically
within the child’s second
or third year of life.
Others dismiss this as
unscientific, and claim
there is a genetic compo-
nent.
Still others have thought
that actions of the parent
have lead to the diagnosis,
or that an unidentified
environmental element is
the cause.
Whatever is finally de-
termined to cause autism,
the increase in diagnoses
has been tremendous in the
past few decades.
In the year 2000, the re-
ported incidence of autism
spectrum disorder was 1 in
150. Recent statistics from
the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
provide this information:
“About 1 in 68 children
has been identified with
autism spectrum disor-
der (ASD) according to
estimates from CDC’s
Autism and Developmental
Disabilities Monitoring
(ADDM) Network.
Fender-bender
becomes meth
arrest
On March 16, 2017 at about 6:32 a.m. Officer Coleton
Smith responded to the Baker Truck Corral for the report
of a vehicle having hit a pole.
Officer Smith was able to identify the driver of the 1993
Nissan Altima as 26 year-old Jace Prowell of Baker City.
During Officer Smith’s investigation he saw drug para-
phernalia in plain sight, which led to a further investiga-
tion. Ultimately Officer Smith located and seized a small
amount of Methamphetamine and other drug parapherna-
lia.
Prowell was transported to the Baker County Jail and
charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Meth-
amphetamine.
A subsequent search warrant of the vehicle is pending.
Stock Photo.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Starting
last month and ending in April, The Baker County
Press is running a six-part series on the subject of
mental health, two articles per month leading up to
May. Written in installments by various reporters,
the series will address both well-known and lesser
known mental illnesses, their symptoms, how they
affect individuals and families, and methods for
treatment.
ASD is reported to occur
in all racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic groups.
ASD is about 4.5 times
more common among boys
(1 in 42) than among girls
(1 in 189).”
Important to remember is
that, while the numbers ap-
pear to be increasing dra-
matically (leading many to
assume there is an environ-
mental component), there
is also a far more educated
medical community who is
now able to identify cases
of autism which may have
been previously undiag-
nosed.
This is not to say that
the increase in identified
cases is merely due to
the better understanding
within the medical field;
until the actual causes of
autism spectrum disorder
are identified there is no
way to know why so many
more kids are receiving the
diagnosis.
The effects of autism
spectrum disorder reach
beyond the immediate
family.
Early Intervention
programs are available to
assist parents in teaching
their kids with autism and
preparing them for the
school years.
Schools offer a variety of
special education pro-
grammes tailored to meet
the needs of their students
who have autism.
Advocacy groups are
available to help parent
and teachers work to-
gether to develop the best
programme for each child.
Work programs exist in
most regions to offer safe
and protected job opportu-
nities to some of those with
special challenges.
Some community part-
ners work with special pro-
grammes to hire employees
who have autism and are
capable of fulfilling their
work requirements.
However, there are still
many adults who have
autism spectrum disor-
der who fall through the
cracks.
Behaviors of someone
who has autism may look
suspicious, or even threat-
ening if there is a situation
in which they feel scared
or uncomfortable.
Law enforcement is
trained to recognize the
signs of a person who has
autism, but in the event of
an escalating and danger-
ous situation there is a pos-
sibility that the responding
officers may not be able to
take the time to identify the
special needs.
The same is true in the
event of fire, or any dan-
gerous situation in which
a person with autism may
find themselves.
The change from routine
can be completely disori-
enting to someone who
has ASD, and their normal
coping skills may not be
able to adjust to keep them
safe.
There is the likelihood
that they may “freeze”
and be unable to move
themselves to safety, or
that they may run towards
danger rather than away.
In their panic, they may
also endanger first re-
sponders who are trying to
help them.
There are many organi-
zations available to help
families and children who
are affected by ASD.
The National Autism As-
sociation has toolkits and
information available from
their website for families,
individuals, schoolteachers
and communities.
They have a large body
of research available to
read free online.
Closer to home are the
state organizations, such as
the Autism Society of Or-
egon and Oregon Council
on Developmental Dis-
abilities, along with many
more.
Local branches of larger
organizations also are
available to provide infor-
mation and assistance to
families.
The Autism Society of
Oregon has local support
groups and can help access
aid to families with kids on
the spectrum.
Finally, some words from
the mother of four adopted
children who each have
autism:
“To hear a little boy who,
when he was first brought
to us, sat in a corner and
screamed while he tore the
skin off his face, be able
to tell me he loves me;
who reminds me, 26 years
later, when our adoption
anniversary is coming up
—that is worth it all.
“To see my beautiful
daughter laughing with her
siblings, snuggling with
me, telling me how much
she loves me (and trains!),
that is worth every one of
my fears.
“These kids are different,
yes. Less? Oh, no. They
offer us the opportunity to
see our world from their
perspective and, if we look
with them, we can see their
rainbows.”
Assault reported
up Elk Creek
On March 15, 2017 at
6:10 p.m., Baker County
Consolidated Dispatch
received a 911 call of a
female being assaulted by
a male subject off of Elk
Creek Road near Hwy. 7.
The reporting person
told dispatch the female
appeared to be unconscious
and was lying in a ditch
next to Elk Creek Road.
Photo Courtesy of the
The reporting party left
Baker County Sheriff’s Office.
the area because the male
James Blitch.
suspect came at them with
a rock. A detailed descrip-
tion of the male suspect was given. The reporting party
wanted to remain anonymous.
Oregon State Troopers, Baker City Fire Department
and Baker County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to
the area in an attempt to locate the injured female and the
male suspect. The female involved in the assault was not
located in the Elk Creek area but was found by Deputies
in Baker City; she did not require medical attention and
gave a statement about the altercation.
The male suspect was identified as James Robert Blitch
(46) of Baker City; he was taken into custody by a Sher-
iff’s Deputy for an unrelated charge at Main and Valley in
Baker City. He was arrested on a Detainer that had been
issued by the Baker County Parole and Probation Office
and was lodged in the Baker County Jail.
The assault incident is still under investigation.
Shed fire
causes damage
On March 15 at 7:43 p.m. Baker City Fire Department
(BCFD) responded to a reported structure fire in a home
located at 2135 Auburn St.
Upon arriving BCFD personnel found a small fire in a
shed to the rear of the garage. Firefighters were met by
the occupant Joel Davis who said he found the fire after a
circuit breaker tripped. When he went outside to inves-
tigate he found the fire. Mr. Davis used a garden hose to
extinguish most of the fire.
Firefighters pulled away portions of the shed to search
for any hidden fire. Occupant Megan Pelcha was also
home at the time of the fire. The home is owned by Trish
Brinton.
Units Assigned: BCFD Engine 2431 and Command
2472; Assisting Agencies: None; Personnel Assigned: 3
Civilian Injuries: None ; Civilian Deaths: None ; Fire Per-
sonnel Injured: None ; Fire Personnel Deaths: None ; Time
on scene: 45 minutes ; Estimated Property Value: $55,000
Estimated Property Lost: $2,000 ; Estimated Contents
Value: $3,000 ; Estimated Contents Lost: $2,000 ; Estimat-
ed Total Property and Contents Value Saved: $54,000
MP306 arrest
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Oregon State Police and the Baker County Sheriff’s
Department began a search of the area for the driver,
who was presumed to be on foot. Thermal scanning was
utilized in the dark from the freeway, around Hwy. 30
below, and with a focus on the area including the road
leading to the City dump, Sutton Creek and the highway
to the City Limits.
Residents of that area were advised to lock their homes
and vehicles as a precautionary measure.
The driver was not located that night.
The next morning, however, residents reported seeing
a solitary man who appeared cold and wet walking, pos-
sibly hitchhiking, and called Dispatch.
Arrested was the driver in the accident, James William
Wallace of Bellevue, Washington, on an outstanding
warrant. Wallace was also taken to St. Alphonsus Medical
Center—Baker City for treatment of a lower leg injury
sustained during the accident.
Strangely, the stolen truck and trailer towed from the
accident caught fire in the tow yard the next day.