Atlas Twp.- When Mason Bays was about 3-years-old, his mother began wondering if something was wrong.
His language development was very slow and when Lynne Morisette would ask her son a question, instead of answering her, he would often repeat what she had asked him.
‘He was like a parrot,? says Morisette. ‘He would do it with videos, too, and just keep repeating lines.?
As a baby, Mason didn’t interact much. Morisette and Mason’s father, Dan Bays, couldn’t engage their son in play with simple games such as peek-a-boo. He wouldn’t reciprocate. But he met all other major milestones.
It was only when he reached the preschool years that his differences became more noticeable. He became obsessed with a Thomas the Tank Engine train and would carry it with him everywhere. He would have tantrums over small things, such as getting zipped into a snowsuit, and go into a rage and scream for hours.
‘It made it difficult to go into a public place,? says Morisette. ‘He couldn’t communicate to tell me what was wrong.?
Morisette and Bays took Mason to a pediatrician who initially thought the boy had hearing difficulty, since he would sometimes act like he didn’t hear his parents. The doctor sent them to a specialist who wanted to put tubes in Mason’s ears, but Morisette knew that wasn’t the problem, since he often repeated what he heard.
It was a teacher who finally set them on the right track. While testing Mason for a preschool program, the teacher observed that when a ball was thrown to Mason he didn’t throw it back. She recommended to his parents that they meet with people in the special education department for the Lake Orion Schools, the district in which they lived at that time. After a speech therapist evaluated him, they had an answer at last.
‘From the testing, they concluded Mason has a mild form of autism,? says Morisette.
According to the Autism Society of America website (www.autism-society.org), autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. The disorder affects as many as 1.5 million Americans. The cause of autism is unknown.
‘I was relieved they had a name for it,? recalls Morisette. ‘My mom’s intuition had told me something was wrong. They assured us it was something they could work with.?
Mason began an intervention program immediately in preschool, being socialized, integrated and mainstreamed with other autistic children at different levels.
Learning basic academics was a slow process. Mason didn’t want to hold pencils or get his fingers dirty. Morisette says he had sensory issues– she had to cut up his peanut butter and jelly so he could eat it with a fork because to get it on his fingers would send him ‘over the edge.?
Peanut butter and jelly and French toast were Mason’s food mainstays. He wouldn’t try new things. One of Morisette’s biggest concerns was malnourishment.
At home, Morisette started a chart with the pecs system (www.pecs.com) and would have posterboards with different chores and tasks to keep Mason focused.
‘He couldn’t do anything without it,? Morisette says. ‘He required prompting for everything. Otherwise, he just wanted to watch TV and be in his own world with Thomas the Tank Engine.?
Mason’s parents began to see improvement right after they started the pec system. He repeated Kindergarten and first grade, but has improved with each grade. Morisette and Bays moved with Mason and his brother Deklyn, 4, to Atlas Township two years ago. Now 13, Mason is in the sixth grade at Goodrich Middle School and although he sees a special education teacher once a day, is in general education classes.
Mason, a dark-haired boy with an infectious laugh, says he likes all his subjects, although science is ‘a little tough for me.?
Morisette feels her son has made tremendous strides, with an excellent support system in the Goodrich Schools.
‘Most people don’t notice differences, but pick up on quirks after awhile,? says Morisette. ‘We’re still working on his social skills and he has some obsessive fears. He can’t handle fireworks. The fourth of July and New Year’s haven’t been the same for us and during thunderstorms, he uses headphones.?
But, she notes, in many ways, he is just like any other child. He plays video games and a musical instrument– the trumpet. He likes movies (his current favorites are ‘Star Wars? and ‘Napoleon Dynamite). He wants friends and to be accepted. He wants to drive a car and get a good job.
‘He really loves and wants to please people,? says Morisette. ‘He wants and needs friends like we all do… He has a great sense of humor and is a lot of fun to be around. He makes a point of being kind and respectful to other and he is genuinely a kind person with a good soul… He has made me a better person.?
After the initial diagnosis, Morisette was concerned about her son’s future, wondering if he would get a job, drive a car, go hunting, live independently and be a productive member of society. Although she knows there are no guarantees, she is more confident now that Mason has a bright future.
Mason has his own specific goals. When asked what he wants to be, he responds, ‘I want to be a good actor, like Luke Skywalker.?
He pauses.
‘I want to be a best friend.?

Goodrich Area Schools hosts monthly Autism Spectrum Disorder DVD workshops throughout the school year. Meetings are 4-6 p.m. on the following dates: Dec. 13, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 14, April 11, and May 9. All meetings are at the Goodrich High School GenNET room, 8029 S. Gale Road. For details, call the Special Education office at (810) 591-5222.

Goodrich Area Schools is hosting an Autism Spectrum Disorder DVD workshop presented by Michelle Garcia from 4 to 6 p.m. April 12 at the GenNet room of Goodrich High School, located at 8029 S. Gale Road in Atlas Township.