Kai Sugiyama looked up at his mother as she pushed him on the swing, a smile spreading across his face. To any other parent, that smile might have been taken for granted, but for Noriko Kantake, the moment is rare and beautiful.
Kantake's 8-year-old son is one of 6,308 children in Ohio affected by autism, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Autism is a neurological disorder that can cause problems with communication, speech development and social interaction. Autism comes in different levels of severity and affects people in different ways, according to the Autism Society of America's Web site.
The Center for Disease Control found in 2007 that one in 150 children in the United States have autism.
Although Kai wasn't diagnosed until he was 30 months old, Kantake said the differences between Kai and other children were evident by the time he was 24 months.
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he didn't speak and he was looking at leaves swinging in the wind for quite a long time Kantake said. I didn't really try to see it before the doctor started the evaluations. But once I looked at those things I said 'Oh
well that could be autism.'
When Kantake moved to Athens three years ago, she found that it was lacking groups to help families affected by autism.
It took me two and a half years or so to realize no one was going to (start a support group) for me ' I have to do it
Kantake said.
To start a chapter of the Autism Society of America, Kantake had to find 10 founding members and get approval from City Council. About six months later, in November, the Southeastern Ohio Chapter of the Autism Society of America finally came into being, with Kantake as president.
April is National Autism Awareness Month, and the chapter is hosting a fundraiser tonight to introduce itself. Rock for Autism will feature a silent art auction, a raffle, food and musical entertainment.
We are looking at the event as our coming-out party to the community in terms of who we are
what we are doing and what we are hoping to achieve
said Margaret Hutzel, treasurer of the autism society's chapter.
Although its first fundraiser is tonight, the chapter of the autism society already has big plans for this summer ' a three-week day camp with the structure and staffing needed for children with autism.
Some funds from Rock for Autism will go toward scholarships for local families who want their child to attend the camp.
We get contacted almost daily by someone looking for info or help
said Hutzel, whose 11-year old son, Gabe, was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a slight form of autism.
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because to Gabe
there is really little difference between animate and inanimate
between people and objects in terms of talking to them
