Autistic man impresses state legislators
They honor his mother for starting program
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| Submitted photo/ Penny Brennell recently was honored by state Rep. Rachel Storch at the Judevine Center for Autism in Olivette. Pictured, from left, are Phillip Lopez, a volunteer in the legislature, Rebecca Blackwell, Julie Roscoe and Ron Eckstrand representing Judevine, Rep. Storch, Penny Brennell and Lisa Goolsby. |
"Even now as his body grows, you can still see the indentations, like his body has learned to grow around them," Penny said.
Today Matthew is 29 and employed at an optical office, where he makes lenses for eyeglasses. He's also a valued volunteer for the Missouri legislature, where he has spent time working in the offices of the members of the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate.Matthew's mother, who lives in the Dogtown neighborhood of south St. Louis, was recently honored by Rep. Rachel Storch, D-St. Louis, for her work to organize the Legislative Work Day in which young adults with autism spectrum disorders work in the state Capitol.
When Penny started the program, some legislators initially balked, unable to appreciate the contribution the volunteers could make, she said. The young adults, however, excelled in their positions. Matthew, for example, was able to use his organizational and data-entry skills to complete a day and a half's work in six hours.
"Now when we walk the halls at the legislature, we're stopped by staff members wanting Matthew to work for them," Penny said.
If Matthew had been her second child, Penny said, she would have known something was wrong during her pregnancy. Matthew kicked inward in his mother's stomach. When she touched her belly, he would stop moving, often to the point that Penny feared she had miscarried.
When he was born, Matthew would cry at skin-to-skin contact. When Penny gave birth to another child a year after Matthew, she began to realize something was wrong. When Matthew was diagnosed with severe classic autism at the age of 3, Penny was told her best option was to institutionalize Matthew.
"They basically said there was really no hope, that we should put him away somewhere," Penny said.
As he got older, Matthew's tantrums lasted for hours. He punched himself to the point of severe bruising. His mother worried who would take care of Matthew if he outlived her.
"I used to wake up at 2 a.m. hoping that he would die before me," Penny said. "It wasn't until that thought went away that I could even admit I had that thought."
Matthew was 6 when Penny first took him to the Judevine Center for Autism in Olivette. Less than three months after their first visit, Matthew's self-abuse stopped. He learned ways to express himself. His mother learned her son had options for a bright future.
Penny credits the Judevine Center for Autism with helping Matthew to the point where he was integrated into a private school in fifth grade. By his sophomore year in high school, classmates were vying for Matthew as their lab partner in biology class because of his incredible math skills.
Becky Blackwell, executive director for the Judevine Center, said Matthew is an example of an autistic individual whose disorder hasn't stopped him for being a productive member of society. Oftentimes, she said, it's a matter of finding a creative solution.
One man being treated by the center loved the sound of broken glass. The center was able to find him a position at a recycling center.
"If you learn their strengths, you can find a job that they like to do," Blackwell said.
Penny said she hopes to one day expand the Legislative Work Day to Washington, D.C. She hopes that by introducing lawmakers to individuals with autism, she can influence the lawmakers' willingness to invest money in programs designed to help autistic individuals become working members of society.
Penny said it would have cost the state $80,000 a year if she had chosen to institutionalize Matthew as a child. Now he is a taxpayer himself, she said.
"If you affect the legislator, you affect the whole state," Penny said. "We want (autistic individuals) to be treated as individuals and not bundles of disabilities."
You can contact Erin Taylor at etaylor@yourjournal.com.
