Schools

State Cuts Some Funding For Program That Supports Autistic Children

Cal State San Bernardino's University Center for Developmental Disabilities needs a private donor to fund its sibling support group.

Angie and Greg Randle of La Quinta have their hands full, but say they wouldn’t have it any other way.

They are the parents of two autistic children – 8-year-old Isaac and 5-year-old Sahara – who are both in the mainstream at school.

But Angie Randle says it was a process to get their children to that point in school and to realize “how wonderful they are and finding out they have gifts.”

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“They see things outside the box,’’ Randle said at a recent parent meeting at the Cal State San Bernardino’s University Center for Developmental Disabilities.

The family regularly attends the center, which provides one-on-one instruction in socialization and behavioral skills on a weekly basis over two years.

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Another tenant of the program, which is a partnership between the Inland Regional Center and CSUSB, includes support groups for parents and siblings.

Inland Regional Center contracts with the California Department of Developmental Services to place developmentally disabled children into the program, which is completely state funded.

This year, California mandated a 4.25 percent budget cut to every program. In response, the UCCD cut funding for the sibling support group, which now needs a private donor, according to Ruth Goodsell, a supervising teacher.

“It’s nice for them (the siblings) to have a place to come. They realize they are not alone,’’ Goodsell said.

A big difference

For Randle and her husband, the program has made a big difference in their lives.

“A lot of my kids success is from here,” she said, adding that her children mostly struggle with social and voice modulation issues.

The parent’s group has helped bridge the sense of isolation that parents can feel with kids who have autism or developmental disorders.

“We get isolated,’’ Randle said. “We feel like we are on our own.’’

The group allows parents to have some “adult time,’’ according to Robbin Puccio, the group’s facilitator.

Puccio said the main issue the group deals with is transition. The children involved in the center range from 3 to 16.

“The newer parents are getting knowledge,’’ she said.

Craig Gilmore of Indio attends the group as his 3-year-old son Ryan has down syndrome.

“We knew other people who had started and they said it was helpful,’’ Gilmore said.

He said that having 2.5 hours with other adults “is very nice.”

“We have a common bond,’’ he said. “We have a child with special needs.”

Another parent, Julie Hill, drives from Blythe to attend the Palm Desert program.

“I see it helps my son it school,’’ Hill said. “He likes to come here.”

Her son 9-year-old Jalen is autistic and the group has helped her see what’s ahead.

“I’m learning as I go on,’’ she said. “I learn more and more.”

More awareness

The group agreed that more people are aware of autism and other developmental disorders, but more work needs to be done.

Angie Randle said she finds herself diagnosing other children she encounters in public, especially at school.

“The don’t recognize it. It’s because it can be subtle,’’ Randle said, adding that some teachers without training believe the children are behaving badly.

She said the program has given her the tools to help others.

“It takes me outside myself when I can help someone else,” Randle said.


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