Autism center opens to unite families, work with kids

When her daughter Gillian was 2 years old, Kelly Weaver of Cary noticed something wasn't quite right.

The child had disappeared into her own world and showed no interest in her birthday presents, had stopped learning new words and was oblivious to the noise and chaos other kids brought when they played, her mother said.

"I think my baby is broken," Weaver said she told a girlfriend.

The little girl, Weaver's only child, had autism. And though her mother's whole world was shattered once she learned more about the condition, Weaver says she never gave up.

"I went and threw up a couple of times and threw myself across the bed and threw myself into action," Weaver said.

Her action has translated into the new Alexander Leigh Center for Autism in Lake in the Hills, which has room for 16 kids.

'A grass roots effort'

Weaver and the center's other co-founder -- Dorie Hoevel of Wauconda -- opened the center in December where three children -- including Gillian -- are enrolled.

The mothers named the center after their autistic children. Hoevel's son is Alexander and Leigh is Gillian's middle name.

Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs social interaction and causes problems with verbal and nonverbal communication.

According to the Autism Society of America, one child in every 150 births will have varying degrees of autism.

"Children with autism are just as unique as snowflakes," Weaver said. "Each one of them is special and different and has their own talents and treasures and things they need to work on."

The center, which held an open house on Saturday, came about after almost three years of fundraising, said Mike Butkus, the center's former treasurer and current board member. He also is Gillian's uncle and lives in Cary.

Tuition payments, grants, fundraisers and donations keep the school running. One fundraiser last spring, for example, brought in $40,000.

"It was truly a grass roots effort," Butkus said. "We all saw the need and saw an opportunity to help. Two-point-five years later, here we are. The doors are open and we're starting."

Pointing to the lack of autism schools in the area, opening one in Lake in the Hills will help serve kids in the Northwest suburbs, Weaver said.

Opening the center has more to do with offering a safe, customized environment to help autistic kids reach their full potential, and less to do with what was or wasn't happening in the public schools.

"The challenge is the schools are stretched," Butkus said. "It's a combination of the number of children that are diagnosed (with autism) and the kids schools are needing to work with."

Teaching in teams

In the development center, each child has a team of professionals working with them, including a case manager, a behavioral consultant, a lead teaching assistant and a secondary teaching assistant.

Together, the team addresses kids' sensory systems and teaches them about daily living skills, academics and socialization.

It's a state-accredited program that hopes to accept referrals from the public schools.

The development learning center opened in December.

The center's other prong, the therapeutic day school, is scheduled to begin classes in the spring. It too, will be accredited by the state. It includes all of the elements of the development center, but also will offer speech occupational and music therapy.

"Children with autism are just as unique as snowflakes," Weaver said of the varying degrees of autism. "Each one of them is special and different and has their own talents and treasures and things they need to work on."

All in the family

One of the center's other main purposes is reaching out to the families of children with autism, because it can be quite frustrating rearing a child with the ailment, Weaver said.

To that end, the center offers parents continued education on autism, support and in-home visits.

The most important thing parents need to remember is to never, ever give up on their kids, Weaver said.

"It's gut wrenching and heartbreaking to lose your child to autism -- they're there, but they're not there," she said. "I don't know if you ever get over that, but as a mom, I think you have to follow your heart and your heart is to always love your child."

How to help

• The Alexander Leigh Center for Autism in Lake in the Hills is a non-profit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.alexanderleighcenterforautism.org.

• The center also will hold a fundraiser March 8 at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. It includes a dinner, silent and live auctions.

• For details, call (847) 525-6935