Helping Autistic Kids Help Themselves

April is Autism Awareness Month, and organizations across the country have planned events to bring public attention to the subject of autism in our communities. Talk About Curing Autism, based in Costa Mesa, serves local families by helping them understand the condition and identify resources. For Fountain Valley resident Natalie Hamilton, the organization came to her aid at a time when her life was turned upside down.

Natalie and Marc Hamilton recognized that their daughter, Sydney, did not develop in speech and language as quickly as her older brother. When Sydney was about 2, Natalie noticed that she failed to respond to hearing her name. “She didn’t look at me when I entered the room,” Natalie recalled. “My mother thought Sydney had a hearing problem, but I knew something else was going on. After a series of tests, her pediatrician diagnosed autism and referred us to the Orange County Regional Center for help. My world came to a stop, and I spent every waking hour hunched over a computer looking for information about autism, and then TACA came to my rescue.”

Today, 12-year-old Sydney attends regular classes at Monroe School with the help of an instructional aide, and she enjoys the companionship of a close group of friends. “These are Sydney’s first friends, and the girls are terrific,” Natalie said. “They have learned to help Sydney modify her behaviors as needed. The girls are likely to remind her to keep her voice down, or to keep a conversation on topic.  Sydney has learned that she can’t always get her way, and that there are always consequences for actions. The girls reinforce what Sydney has learned in her therapies.”

Sydney’s successes are the result of her parents’ efforts to understand autism and to find appropriate therapies for her. She has been to speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Additionally, her family members have been educated about dealing with the condition, in large part through their association with TACA.

“I remember going to (TACA Founder and President) Lisa (Ackerman)’s house when we first learned of Sydney’s diagnosis,” Natalie said. “She provided me with a folder of things she had learned. This was so helpful, especially because information was so hard to find.” 

Today new families attend a whole-day seminar, and they receive a book and a 2-inch binder full of information when they first contact TACA. The support is a lifeline for these families, and according to Ackerman, “We have formed our own community. When many public places are not friendly to children with autism, our events provide a place where everybody is welcomed and appreciated. Our TACA picnic in June is the highlight of my year.”

TACA helps families living with autism, and 95 percent of the services are free. “We help families to understand the disease, connect to resources, use best practices, and feel part of a community.”

TACA began with a small handful of families in a living room in 2000. Today, it serves several thousand families around the United States. From a grassroots beginning in southern California, TACA expanded nationwide and now operates Chapters in more than 20 states. Support is available on the website and via meetings. Upcoming events include social and fundraising efforts, including a celebrity golf tournament in June.