Working with autism
The Autism Center helps families in need
By Sean Hart
Argus Observer
SeanH@argusobserver.com
Saturday, February 6, 2010 10:15 PM PST
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| The Autism Center Executive Director Alicia Velasquez (right), 30, Ontario, works with her 9-year-old son, Silas, Friday at the center, situated behind Carl’s Jr. at 243 East Lane N., in Ontario. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays to assist people with autism and their families. |
ONTARIO — Between Boise and Portland, there was no place for people with autism and their families to go for help, so Alicia Velasquez co-founded The Autism Center in Ontario late in 2008.
Last year, she said, the nonprofit organization helped more than 100 families dealing with the difficulties of autism: a neurological development disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.
Now, The Autism Center has an office building behind Carl’s Jr. in Ontario and supports a four-person volunteer staff, in addition to Velasquez, the executive director, she said.
Velasquez, 30, Ontario, is a mother of four, two of whom have autism, and she is now assisted by Betty Maxwell, Ontario, Cindy Lucht, Ontario, Stephanie Ervin, Nyssa, and John Roth, a bilingual physician’s assistant from Ontario.
“It’s a wonderful resource,” Roth said of The Autism Center. “There’s no other centers in this area. It’s usually just in the bigger cities. We’re really lucky to have this here.”
With the prevalence of autism increasing, especially in Oregon, the center will certainly provide benefits to those affected, Roth said.
“There’s a lot of research being conducted at OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) in Portland, but we don’t have any for sure data as to why the incidence is increasing,” he said. “We do know that if we start intervention at an early age it’s more successful, it’s a better outcome.”
The Autism Center works directly with people with autism and offers autism-related education, support and help to anyone in need, including families, schools, businesses and community members, Velasquez said.
“You can come in here and get every service you possibly can,” she said. “We’re the one-stop shop (for autism).”
The Autism Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and is situated at 243 East Lane N., Suite 1, Ontario.
A support group for families is also held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the Payette and Weiser conference rooms at Holy Rosary Medical Center, 351 S.W. Ninth St., Ontario, Velasquez said.
Since Velasquez and Shelly Gilman founded The Autism Center in 2008, Velasquez said she has made progress working with her 9-year-old son, Silas, who has autism.
“I want to be able to give to other children what I was able to give to my son,” Velasquez said. “He’s just really, really smart, but he can’t verbally express his feelings. He’s extremely intelligent. He just doesn’t know how to take care of himself.”
While working on self-sufficiency with people with autism, Velasquez said she and the volunteer staff focus on eight skill categories: self-care, receptive/expressive language, learning styles, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, economic self-sufficiency and sensory and other issues.
“There is hope for our children (with autism),” Velasquez said. “These kids can go to school, go to college, get married, have a job. Our goal is for them to be self-sufficient.”
The Autism Center welcomes donations, and DJ’s Family Restaurant, Ontario, is also currently holding a fundraiser for the center. A Valentine’s basket full of goodies, along with one free night’s stay at the Holiday Inn, Ontario, and two free Valentine’s dinners at DJ’s will be given away in a raffle drawing Thursday. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5, and all proceeds go to The Autism Center.
Ontario’s nonprofit resource for people with autism and their families, The Autism Center, is seeking a banner to display on the front of the building, 243 East Lane N., Suite 1, Ontario. For more information, call the center, (541) 212-4459 or visit its Web site, www.orautismcenter.com.
Lifestyle Editor Sean Hart can be contacted at SeanH@argusobserver.com. For more local lifestyle news, visit www.argusobserver.com/news/us.
