BY SUE MacDONALD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
He still claps his hands rhythmically and reads the same books over and over and over.
But 5-year-old Stevie Fuller of Anderson Township is making strides that surprise even his parents, David and Nancy Fuller. So profound is his progress, in fact, that they're holding a fund-raiser Dec. 5 to thank the organizations and programs that have helped their autistic son, as well as to continue his enrichment.
In August, the Enquirer profiled the Fullers and their experience with Stevie, diagnosed at 2 with autism, a childhood disorder that inhibits a person's ability to relate to others. He did not make eye contact, did not talk and was engrossed in many repetitive behaviors, including hand-clapping and jumping.
At the time, they were six months into a home-based intervention and stimulation program called Son-Rise.
"His contentment in relationships is improved, and he's much happier being with people," says David, 39, an independent sales rep. "Now when 'Papa' (his grandfather) drives up to the house, he'll say, 'Papa is coming!' or 'Papa's red car is here!' "
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IF YOU GO
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What: Stevie's Autism Fund-Raiser.
When: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 5.
Where: Cellblock Nightclub, 12th and Main streets, downtown. It features an open bar and silent auctions
Cost: $35, with proceeds split among the non-profit Stevie Fuller Autism Fund, the Son-Rise Program, and Cincinnati Recreation Commission Therapeutic Division.
Information: 474-5505.
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Today, 15 people spend 45 or more hours a week with Stevie in a special room at the Fullers' home working on growth and development skills - language, eye contact, numbers, books, trust, humor, sharing.
Non-verbal just a year ago, Stevie now has 223 words and 11 phrases in his vocabulary. He laughs spontaneously, can hold eye contact for 15 seconds or more, engages in pretend play, is developing a sense of humor, imitates others' behaviors and conversations, and rarely throws once-common tantrums.
He is taking swimming lessons through the Cincinnati Recreation Commission's Therapeutic Division for people with disabilities or handicaps.
"The real apparent changes are in his use of words and his ability to communicate about a lot of things," says his mother, Nancy, 38, manager of national account development for Tenneco Packaging. "From before the Son-Rise program to now, his contentment with life is so much better."
The Fullers credit much of Stevie's progress to the Son-Rise program, developed by Barry Neil and Samahria Kaufman more than 20 years ago when their son Raun, then 3, was diagnosed as profoundly autistic and severely retarded. For several years, they spent many hours a day with Raun in a special room at their home to develop necessary skills, all based on unconditional love and acceptance. Today, Son-Rise is offered to other families through the Kaufmans' non-profit Option Institute in Sheffield, Mass.
Raun, a graduate of Brown University, now teaches the Son-Rise Start-Up program there and will be guest speaker at the Dec. 5 event.
