Benjamin, left, Zander and Ty participate in circle time with tutors Kris Bradford, back left, and Madison Fujimoto during the Autism Bridges program at Kids on the Move in Orem, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013.
Ravell Call, Deseret News
OREM A little boy looking at his mom and saying "hi" may not seem significant for many, but it is for the mother whose son wouldnt even acknowledge her before he started treatment for autism spectrum disorder.
This is just one success story to come out of a Kids on the Move program called Bridges, which provides services for children ages 28 with autism spectrum disorder. The program has grown immensely over the past year for a variety of reasons, from 30 children to nearly 100.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 47 individuals in Utah are on the autism spectrum the highest rate in the United States.
Rising statistics over the past decade can be attributed to increased awareness and less stringent criteria for diagnosis, according to Deborah Bilder of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic. Consequences from this can be seen in rising enrollment numbers at autism clinics and schools, particularly because Utah government funding is facilitating more treatment at places like Kids on the Move.
Without the autism treatment account grant, Tara Hendriksens son Ty wouldnt be able to participate in Bridges therapy to the large extent he is now. The grant pays for him to attend 20 hours a week for what would otherwise cost the Hendriksens $37,000 a year.
Hendrickson said her son has received life-changing services that took him from being nonverbal and throwing 15 tantrums a day to developing language skills and having meltdowns just once or twice a day if at all.
Hes a completely different kid than he was just a year ago, Hendriksen said. His little personality has been able to come through and he tells me all the time, Mom, Im happy.
"You can just see how much happier he is because he can express himself.
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