The Tribune

DOZENS of guests filled the State Room at Government House last Thursday as William Hilton sang the national anthem a cappella to begin an “Evening Under the Stars” to commemorate REACH Bahamas’ 15th anniversary.

The audience erupted in cheers as William, a charismatic 10-year-old student at the Autism Unit of Garvin Tynes Primary School, took a bow following his rendition. William was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) just before his first birthday.

“William is my first child, when he started having seizures I took him to the hospital and that’s when they told me that he was not developing at a normal rate,” said Jacqueline Whylly-Hilton, William’s mother. Nonverbal until the age of five, William would hum the tune of his favourite songs but would not speak. He is a testament to the benefit of early detection and intervention treatment services and how they can greatly improve a child’s development.

“When children are diagnosed, early intervention is essential to assist them in reaching their full potential,” said Kim Gibson, vice president of REACH and the mother of a son with ASD. “Unfortunately, there are few therapy options here and those that are available are out of the financial reach of many parents. It is our dream to make therapy available to all children diagnosed with autism in the Bahamas, regardless of their financial position, thus giving all children on the spectrum the same opportunity to success.”

ASD affects one in every 68 children, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. And according to REACH, it is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the Bahamas. It occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, but is almost five times more common among boys than among girls.

REACH has been promoting ASD awareness and education in the Bahamas since 1999, providing free services and resources for children and families affected.

The reality that many parents raising children with ASD face is daunting, REACH said. Homes are refinanced to fund treatment services to address a child’s challenges in communication and physical health. Jobs are lost when a handful of sick days are sucked up by the innumerable days a child with ASD may need direct attention with no available caretaker. Simple trips to the grocery store make children with ASD a target for onlookers eager to comment on their behaviour without an understanding of the interactive challenges children with ASD battle.

For these parents, REACH aims to provides a number of free outreach services, including a weekly parent support group.

“We invite guest speakers that can provide information, guidance and assistance as well as counselling for parents and emotional support,” said Mrs Gibson. “We assist with school placement because there is a lack of space in public special needs classrooms.”

After 15 years of service, REACH is looking to the future.

“Our main objective for 2015 is to secure a bigger office space where we can eventually offer therapy,” she said.

The government has committed to building a full centre for the disabled, complete with education, training and recreational facilities on a 20-acre site on Gladstone Road.

During her address, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin confirmed that the ground-breaking for the centre will occur in January.

“We have to move persons with disabilities from second class citizens to the first class,” Mrs Griffin said.

The Best Buddies programme assists with this goal. Best Buddies is a global volunteer movement that seeks to integrate those with ASD into the workforce. Corporate volunteers welcome those with ASD into the workplace where they are assigned a buddy who works with them one-on-one with the ultimate goal of securing rewarding jobs that will allow adults with autism to become part of mainstream society.

Baha Mar has already implemented the programme. Three young men with ASD recently graduated from the Leadership Development Institute and have secured full-time jobs at Baha Mar.

Minister Griffin urged parents of children with ASD to continue to fight for their futures and advised that the government, parents and community must work together to uplift the standard of living for those with special needs.