Family appeals for help for son, eight (From Witney Gazette)

Family appeals for help for son, eight

9:00am Wednesday 15th November 2006 in Witney

A WITNEY family is appealing for help to send their severely autistic son to America for specialist treatment.

Dawn and Roger Locke, of Farmers Close, have spent years trying to find the best way to treat their eight-year-old son, Kieran, who is one of 1,366 children who suffer from autism in Oxfordshire.

In February, they made a breakthrough when they started using a method developed in the USA, called the Son-Rise approach.

Kieran is now starting to talk, play, and enjoy life.

But to progress further, it is vital for him to be seen by specialists at the Son-Rise autism treatment centre, in Sheffield, Massachusetts, which costs £8,000 for just a week.

The family have already raised half of this, and needs £4,000 more. They also desperately need 20-30 volunteers to play with Kieran, as he needs one-on-one interaction around the clock, to give him the best chance for positive development.

"We need about 20-30 volunteers to spend time with Kieran, so we are appealing for anyone who would not mind giving up a few hours a week to come forward."

Dawn Locke

A concert to raise funds for Kieran is to be held at 7pm this Friday in the Methodist Church, High Street, Witney.

Mrs Locke, 42, used to be a primary school teacher at Batts School and Queen Emma's Dyke School, but has given up work to care for Kieran and her other children, Lydia, nine, and Bethany, 12.

She said: "We have tried many different options, with limited success, but since we have been using the Son-Rise technique, every day we see a little more progress.

"When we first started we spent hours just trying to get eye contact with Kieran. Now he can even say two words together to tell us what he wants.

"We are seeing more and more of his character, before he wouldn't want to make any physical contact, but now he comes over to you and will play.

"He has a lovely sense of humour, he's always smiling and laughing. He seems much happier. To get Kieran to America would give him that extra leap forward."

Their ultimate aim is to get Kieran attending school. At the moment, using the Son-Rise approach, Kieran spends most of his time in a special playroom, which has plain walls, with just one person at a time interacting with him.

"Autism is not a intelligence problem, it's developmental, and it affects the senses," said Mrs Locke. "Out of all the things going on Kieran can't distinguish what is important, and so to him the outside world is chaos, which he finds very stressful and difficult to cope with.

"The specially adapted play room takes away noise and visual distractions with one person in there to focus on. We try to join in with him and become a part of his world bit by bit building on his interests and doing the things he suggests."

Mr and Mrs Locke and four volunteers, Sue Cable, Mary Feilden, Tom Stocker, and Shelina Begun, work around the clock to make sure Kieran has someone with him in the playroom eight hours a day.

Tom, an 18-year-old A-Level student at Burford School, started volunteering with Kieran in April this year for four hours per week.

He said: "The main thing I do with Kieran is make friends with him. It's difficult because autistic people are quite withdrawn, they need security and a predictable life. You build a relationship and eventually go into his world and then bring him into our world.

"I found it really challenging at first. I hadn't had any experience with children with autism. But I just really enjoy doing it. I love seeing Kieran's progress.

"It's inspired me. After working with Kieran you can't help but pick up a brilliant attitude to life. It's changed my life. Before I wanted to be a children's TV presenter - now I am applying to do medicine at university, because I want to give something back to the community and help people."

Tom has written to everyone he knows and knocked on doors in his village, and held a party to raise money for Kieran.

Mrs Locke said: "It's amazing to have volunteers like Tom, who are so young and are willing to give up their time to help. We have volunteers of all ages - it's not about age, it's about attitude.

"We need about 20-30 volunteers to spend time with Kieran, so we are appealing for anyone who would not mind giving up a few hours a week to come forward."

The Locke family has got a booking for Kieran in America for December 2007, but hope to bring it forward if there is a cancellation.

On November 27 and 28, a specialist from the treatment centre is coming to work with Kieran.

Witney solicitors Bartlett and Taylor have already made donations, and the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and Witney Charity are hoping to give their support.

Peter Hunt, piano teacher, is organising and playing in the fundraising concert on Friday, from 7pm. The Batt School Choir, The Brize Singers, and various musicians on the flute, violin, flugel horn, and euphonium will play.

Tickets are £5 for adults £2.50 for children, and are available from the Methodist Church coffee shop.

The famous autistic genius-pianist Derek Paravicini has agreed to play a fundraising concert for Kieran. Tom is helping to organise this, and is hoping to involve TV personality Jools Holland.

Anyone wishing to volunteer with Kieran can contact Mr and Mrs Locke, on 07913264950, after 8pm, and any donations would be gratefully accepted.

Cheques should be made out to Master Kieran Locke, and sent to: c/o Peter Hunt, the Methodist Church, High Street, Witney.