DOES a child in your family have autism?

If so, says a Crediton mother of a child with autism, you will know how challenging and what hard work it can be for the rest of the members of the family.

Dee and Mark Saunders' six-year-old son Luca was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder when he was just three years old.

He now attends mainstream school at Sandford School.

He has a full statement of educational needs and has a one-to-one teaching assistant.

Dee explained that they have looked into many interventions to help him from his diet to sensory profiling and sacrocranial therapy and they have all been of help.

However, Dee and Mark say they have recently received great financial support from a local fund which has enabled them to find out about, and put into practice, beneficial practices through the "Son-Rise Program".

Dee explained: "We were recently talking to another mum, Gretchen Oldland, whose son also attends Sandford School.

"He is also on the autistic spectrum. She told us that the family had visited the United States where they had taken part in the 'Son Rise Program' which significantly helped them and their child.

"In order to get to the States they had raised a significant amount of money and there was still some funds left over.

"The main purpose of these funds was to help other Devon children on the spectrum.

"We have been helped financially so that we can access the Program in our own home in Crediton, as at this particular time in our lives we cannot go to America to take part in the full Son Rise Program.

"Luckily for us, a former facilitator of the Program, Bethany Burton, now lives in Morchard Bishop and she has visited our home and completed a session with Luca and ourselves already.

"We have already seen a result. Luca initiated play with me for the first time ever after Beth's visit.

"We have another session planned soon.

"Luca had a lovely time with Beth which we observed via our TV through a spy camera so that we, too, could also learn the techniques of the Program.

"She also briefed us and gave us a book and a DVD for more information."

The Son-Rise Program has been helping children on the Autistic Spectrum for more than 25 years.

It has been used for thousands of children across the UK to develop language, attention span, eye contact and flexibility skills.

Certified child facilitator Beth Burton has supported more than 200 families for more than 10 years. She works on a one-to-one basis with the child to demonstrate the principles and techniques of the Son-Rise Program.

For more information you can contact Beth on 01363 877511 or visit the website: http://www.bethburton.co.uk">www.bethburton.co.uk .

If there are any families who might like to find out about financial help available for a child to take part in the Son-Rise Program, they are invited to contact Gretchen on 01363 85155.

Alan Quick