Autism center provides local aid

April 30--SAN ANGELO, Texas -- A scare at a Halloween store didn't come from the macabre offerings within, but from outside in the parking lot.

Years ago, while Shannon Martinez browsed the seasonal shop with her two young sons, her eldest darted out the door, laughing as he stood near a busy intersection.

He dared his mother to chase him as she looked on in fear, holding a stroller containing her younger son. Frozen in place, Martinez did her best to remain calm, figuring that standing still would be the best approach for her autistic child.

"I knew if I took one step toward him he was going to run, and there was all this incoming traffic," Martinez said.

"In this instance I just kept saying 'come back.' I was just hoping he would lose the fun out of the game and come back. Luckily he lost interest and came back."

Martinez's actions potentially saved her son's life that day.

After that, training from a visiting certified behavior analyst taught her what to do for her then out-of-control, aggressive son. After seeing positive results in his behavior after months of applied behavior analysis therapy, Martinez devoted her life to helping children like her son.

Martinez a certified assistant behavior analyst at the Autism Behavior Communication Center for Children, which opened this month at 902 Spaulding St.

The center, which is a program of MHMR Services for the Concho Valley, is the first of its kind in San Angelo, said Greg Rowe, the center's executive director.

"Some people have actually diverted from San Angelo because there was no treatment for autism," Rowe said. For military families, "what happens is either the serviceman goes somewhere else or he stays here, but his family goes somewhere else and the family is unable to stay together. What we're hoping is that that's not going to be an issue for Goodfellow (Air Force Base) any longer."

Rowe, who formerly was the intellectual and development disabilities director at MHMR, has been working to open the center since last year. He applied and received a $150,000 grant from the James B. and Lois R. Archer Charitable Foundation as startup money for the ABC Center.

The small building, which until last year was the San Jacinto School Health Clinic Family Wellness Center, is next to San Jacinto Elementary School and is owned by San Angelo school district.

The school district leases the building to MHMR at a reasonable rate because of a partnership forged with ABC to aid SAISD students, Rowe said. Besides their work at ABC, the center's therapists provide many at-school treatments, Rowe said.

The center is adorned with art and child-friendly graphics throughout. There are a number of rooms in which therapists can diagnose or administer ABA therapy using individualized curriculum for each and every child they treat.

The rooms are filled with books, games and toys. A grant for about $12,000 was awarded to the ABC center from United Way for supplies. Additionally, many toys and games were donated by local churches and nonprofit organizations, Rowe said.

ABA therapy is an intense one-on-one treatment that takes up four to 30 hours per week. The treatment is most effective when administered at a young age, preferably starting at 2 years old, said Susan Holler, speech and language pathologist at ABC.

"Evidence-based recommendations suggest four to six hours a week minimum. That could go on for years. Each ABA plan is individualized to the child and the wishes of the parents. One child may only need six hours a week, but some can need 30 hours a week," Holler said.

ABC plans to explore the idea of providing financial assistance to those who don't qualify for ABA therapy through their insurance coverage or Medicaid, Rowe said. Costs could be as high as $60,000 per year for treatment, according to statistics from nonprofit group Autism Speaks.

The center aims to boost its small staff of therapists as it takes in more clients, Rowe said.

Martinez, for one, doesn't mind her heavy workload. She embraces the rewards of her job.

"I work with kids who don't talk at all, they don't listen, they don't cooperate," Martinez said.

"Once we see them talking, it's a big payoff, and that's one of my favorite things -- to be the one that gets them going, able to overcome their challenges."

How to help

What: Autism Behavior Communication Center for Children is accepting donations

Where: 902 Spaulding St.

Contact: 325-617-5845 or email [email protected]

More info: Toys, games or money sought as donations

What else: ABC will be at Angelo State University's autism walk at 10 a.m. Saturday at the ASU Pavilion

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