Mum’s mission to put autism on the run

WHEN Susan Crawford’s son Tomás was three years old, his autism, diagnosed a year earlier, began to show itself in more ways than one.

“I realised he had difficulties in the area of movement skills,” she says, explaining that Tomás had problems with running, catching, throwing, and jumping — all the things that children do every day. Finer movements like holding a pen or fork and tying buttons and zips were also problematic.

“I quickly realised that these problems were inherent to the condition of autism.”

Lucky for him that his mother is not only a trained nurse but also an expert in the benefits of physical activity.

“When he was diagnosed, he had a typical profile. He had words and then he lost them — he regressed. I was working in Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin so he was diagnosed very quickly and that early intervention made a huge difference.”

Susan, a researcher in fundamental movement skills for children and adults with autism, has been engaged in promoting education for those with the condition as part of her work as a lecturer in University College Cork.

She has also completed fundraising marathons from Antarctica to New York in her bid to raise physical activity awareness. She is no stranger to marathons, commuting from the family home in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, to Cork four days a week.

It is a gruelling schedule but she is happy to do it for Tomás, who attends a special school in Ennis.

“I usually get to work from home on Mondays but the rest of the week I commute. It’s not too difficult, really. It’s just a matter of getting on with it.”

Tomás, 17, is as active as she is. “His training schedule includes running, swimming, long hikes, and he recently commenced a gym programme. Last year he completed his second half-marathon and is currently in training for this year’s event.”

Susan can see at first hand the huge difference it makes to him. “I tried to get Tomás as active as possible from early on.”

This not only made him fitter, but more sociable and engaged with the world around him. “He can comfortably sit in company, without exhibiting stereotypical mannerisms and tics frequently associated with the condition.”

On the day we spoke, she was busy in the garden of their home in Miltown Malbay, while Tomás was cheerfully putting the clothes on the line, unconcerned at the presence of a man from the local garden centre.

“Tomás is a very conscientious young man and well regulated. I am divorced but his dad lives nearby and is very active in his life and Tomás spends every second weekend with him and his partner.”

As the Irish Society for Autism celebrates its 50th anniversary, Susan says her mission is to “put autism on the run” and to show how active living promotes positive engagement of children and adults with autism. Susan has written two handbooks, one of which is aimed at parents, to demonstrate the importance of physical activity for those with autism.

The launch of the books will take place later this month as part of the Sports Studies and Physical Education and Health Action Zone conference being held in UCC’s Mardyke Arena on Apr 19 and 20.

The books will be launched by Olive Loughnane, Ireland’s most successful race walker, former world silver medallist, and Olympian.

They are designed to provide parents and practitioners with guidelines on the promotion of physical activity and fundamental movement skills for children and adults with autism.

Susan has so many academic qualifications and letters after her name, it is hard to count. She is a lecturer in sports studies and physical education at UCC.

She also lectures in the master’s in education programme on developmental disabilities and developmental physical education. Susan completed her PhD in fundamental movement skills and social responsiveness for children with autism at the University of Limerick, graduating in 2008.

The skill she treasures most, though, is far from the corridors of academia. “Parenting is the greatest skill of all. I firmly believe that.”

* Further details on the book launch and the conference as well as booking information are available at: http://conferencing.ucc.ie/conference/ or by emailing Dr Susan Crawford on [e-mail].

* See also autismireland.ie