By Ryan O'Connor
Staff Writer

Courtesy photo Blake Hooper, 19, of Bow, is congratulated by his sister Brittany following his high school graduation. Hooper was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, but has persevered despite the disorder. He just completed his freshman year in college.

Autism stories • Bedford: Loud, unpredictable noises frighten boy • Bow: Teen with autism defies all odds • Goffstown: Like a switch was turned off • Hooksett: Family appreciates joys, deals with disappointments • Pelham: Autism offers boy a creative impulse

Autism awareness walk to take place May 13 AUBURN – The Autism Society of New Hampshire is sponsoring “A Walk in the Sun,” an autism awareness nature walk, on Saturday, May 13, at the Audubon Center at Lake Massabesic. Registration starts at 9am, and the walk begins at 10am. Participants may walk one mile or three. No pets, please. For directions, visit NHaudubon.org. All donations are tax deductible and stay in New Hampshire to support local families. For more information, visit NHautism.com or call 603-679-2424.

What is autism? By Darrell Halen Staff Writer Autism is a complex developmental disability that impacts a person’s brain functions and, therefore, his or her communication and social interactions. This neurological disorder typically appears in a person’s first three years. “Typically, between (the) ages of 2 and 3, you start to notice that the child is not communicating effectively or there’s uneven skill development,” said Marguerite Tompkins, a preschool services teacher for the Pelham and Windham school districts. Autism is known as a spectrum disorder. It affects each person differently and traits vary from mild to severe. According to the Autism Society of America, an autistic person may exhibit any combination of the following symptoms: aggressive behavior, self-injurious behavior, resistance to change, difficulty expressing needs, repeating words or language instead of normal language, gesturing and pointing instead of speaking, throwing tantrums, wanting to be alone, showing little eye contact, dislike of cuddling, inappropriate attachment to objects, lack of fear of dangers, overactivity and underactivity, uneven gross/fine motor skills, unresponsiveness to verbal cues, laughing, crying and showing distress for no apparent reason, unresponsiveness to teaching methods, playing oddly, spinning objects, and apparent oversensivity and undersensitivity to pain. Dr. Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist who observed children, officially identified autistic children in 1943. Before Kanner’s work, such children would have been labeled as emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded. Society’s understanding of the disorder has grown since Kanner’s contributions but there are still many unanswered questions about it. There is no single known cause of autism, according to ASA. No gene has been identified as being responsible but experts believe the disorder is due to abnormalities in brain function and structure. Differences in brain shape and structure have been found when comparing autistic children and non-autistic kids. Experts at the ASA believe children are born with autism or are born with the potential to develop it. The role of genetics is also supported by research that many autistic people come from families with a history of autism or related disabilities. A study by the Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C., ruled out a relationship between the measles/mumps/rubella vaccine and autism. It also ruled out a link between thimerosal and autism. Thimerosal is the ingredient in the vaccine many suspect as the cause of autism. Nevertheless, many people still believe the vaccine theory, and there is a class-action lawsuit in federal court regarding that theory. As many as 1.5 million children and adults in the United States are believed to be autistic, said the institute. The milder the symptoms, the likelihood is greater that it will take longer for the problem to be recognized, Tompkins said. There is no medical test for diagnosing autism. Professionals make a diagnosis based on a person’s behavior, communication and development levels. More children are being diagnosed with it, but Tompkins said there’s speculation as to why that is. But just because a person has autism doesn’t mean they can’t learn and be productive. Kids don’t outgrow the disorder but their symptoms will lessen as receive treatment and develop.

Blake Hooper was diagnosed with autism when he was 3. At the time, a doctor told his mother Blake wouldn’t be able to go to public school.

“I had no idea what to do and, at the time, the Bow School District had no idea what to do either,” said Glee Hooper. “The rug was pulled out from under me, and all my hopes and dreams for him were pulled as well.”

Today, Blake, 19, has just completed his freshman year at college and is living life like most other students his age.

Blake started in a special needs preschool where his mother learned about other support programs.

In addition to alternative medicine, Hooper turned to the Institute on Disability, a statewide program at the University of New Hampshire. There, she took a year-long leadership program that helped her to raise Blake to function normally with children his age. She also served as president of the Autism Society of New Hampshire.

“It gave me a whole new vision. I was so happy to have connected there,” she said. “Being very sad about this diagnosis, which was very sad at the time, (the program) really gave me some encouragement and something to work toward.”

Hooper’s goal was for Blake to attend regular schools and activities with other students. Blake began attending Woodside School and a special tutor helped him adjust.

“We solved problems one step at a time and made it work,” said Hooper. “I really wanted Blake to be with other kids, not isolated and learning by himself. I had a very strong feeling about him being in charge of his life. I wanted him to be independent and inclusion was a big part of that.”

Blake developed into a charming child who was capable of reading at very high levels and remembering extraordinary amounts of information at a rapid pace.

“He really impressed a lot of other kids at school who didn’t necessarily see it as a disability. But, when he got to middle school, it started to show a little more because of the pressure that exists there,” Hooper said. “Still, he had the remarkable ability to travel his own path and not sweat the small stuff. He’s very honest, very frank and, although he didn’t always fit into the social constraints that are around, he was very well loved in Bow and became cool in his own way.”

Blake now attends Stonehill College is Easton, Mass.

“I don’t even think he tells people in college he has autism,” said Hooper. “He’s well-adapted and he functions fine, and he’s going to have a full-time job for the summer and is looking forward to hanging out with his friends.”

Hooper even foresees a possible career in education for her son.

“I’ve always looked at Blake as a teacher. He doesn’t even realizes it, but he really teaches everyone around him,” she said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up becoming an English teacher or something like that.”

Overall, Hooper said she is very proud of the young man Blake has become.

“It’s definitely a good thing what’s happened to him over the years,” she said. “I’m grateful for the way things have turned out for us and for him.”

Hooper also said while each family experiences their own issues with autism at varying levels of difficulty, there are many other stories like Blake’s.

“At this point, it really has been a great success story and I know a lot of other families face a lot of challenges and they don’t necessarily find the keys that unlock the doors. But, you’re seeing more people like Blake, in that they have these remarkable gifts. These gifts just have to be illuminated and who they are just needs to be appreciated,” said Hooper. “It’s a huge undertaking to have a child like this and a huge opportunity for people who are up to it.”