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The 13-year-old West Salem, Wis., boy, who has autism, speaks often in one-word sentences but is learning to speak in longer sentences. At times he cannot communicate his thoughts and feelings at all.
But when Justin sits down at a computer, he has found a new communication tool and can carry on conversations. He also has come out of his shell.
"He's come a million miles, and the computer has been a major reason why," said Sue Jeffers, a teaching assistant at West Salem Middle School, who has worked regularly with Justin. "The computer is his tool of choice for communication. We type conversations back and forth."
When Dr. Carol Rosckowff, a Franciscan Skemp Medical Center pediatrician, discovered that Justin did not have a computer at home, she sought one for him.
Franciscan Skemp donated one of its older computers to Justin, and
Nate Finstuen from the information services department updated the computer and set up the system at the boy's home.
"Justin is not very verbal, but he understands a lot," Rosckowff said. "But with a computer, he shines, and in school working on the computer he has blossomed.
Rosckowff said research has shown that use of computers with autistic children can increase focused attention and motor skills and decrease agitation and self-stimulatory behaviors.
Carmen Dow, Justin's mother, said she is thankful to have a computer at home.
"Justin has always taken to the computer, he's so intelligent with stuff like that," Carmen Dow said. "When he's on the computer, he always has so much to say.
"It's good to know he has the smarts, and the computer has shown that," she said. "He wants to talk and tell you things, but he just can't get it out of his mouth. It's like pulling a tooth."
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 2 to 6 in 1,000 individuals.
Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity.
People with autism may exhibit some of the following traits: difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words; repeats words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language; throws trantrums; makes little or no eye contact; has no real fears of danger; and displays physical overactivity or extreme underactivity.
Nichole Peterson, a West Salem special education teacher in cognitive disabilities, said computers have made a world of difference in Justin's life.
"Justin tends to have more than one thing going on and the computer helps him focus," Peterson said. "He's really good at the computer. He's even reprogrammed our computer and he has fixed it, too."
"In the past year he's made a ton of progress," she said. "He's very intelligent and high functioning."
Jeffers, Peterson's teaching assistant, said Justin likes to read and she works with him on counting money and telling time. She said Justin also communicates by singing songs.
"He responds with songs and the computer," Jeffers said. "He knows a couple hundred songs and his memorization is phenomenal.
"He types fast and is very accurate," she said. "He's an excellent speller, better than most seventh-graders. "
In a typical school day's nine class periods, Justin is at the computer during seven class periods.
"He's the most focused at the computer, and he feels in control," Peterson said.
Justin's mother added, "He feels good about himself and what he can accomplish when he's at the computer."
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at (608) 791-8227 or trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com.
