Fundraiser helps autistic child, autism center

By: Jessica Marshall, Managing Editor

At age 2, Caeden Kephart seemed to be developing like a typical child, playing, speaking small sentences and enjoying learning.

But by the next year, he had regressed to one- to two-word utterances, lining up toys instead of playing with them and not making eye contact.

His mother, Barb, noticed the red flags and knew Caeden needed to be evaluated for autism. She holds a master’s degree in special education from the University of Kansas and studied spectrum disorders.

"It took four months for us to be seen by an evaluation specialist to determine if Caeden did have autism," Barb, 39, Overland Park, said. "I taught for several years in the Shawnee Mission School District, two years as an autism specialist. My training helped in that I knew what the possibilities were. I had a basic understanding of autism. It’s different as a teacher, whereas I’m dealing with it 24/7 as a parent. As a parent, I still want my son to say ‘I love you.’"

Barb said as Caeden regressed from January to April 2007, "every day he was demonstrating certain behaviors, such as hand clapping, that were all signs pointing towards autism.

"He would notice himself in mirrors more than the typical person would. Shiny objects would capture his attention more than I did. Eye contact started to go and he stopped coming or focusing towards me when I called his name. He was not playing or engaging with toys in a typical manner, lining them up rather than saying ‘vroom vroom’ with a car," she said. "I could see it in his eyes, I could see he pulled in and he wasn’t as available. I thought maybe I knew too much or because I had a 4-month-old maybe I was just sleep deprived. But there were too many red flags not to do something."

Caeden, now 4, has a sister, Kate, 2. Barb said Kate appears to be developing normally, although younger siblings of autistic children have a 9 percent to 13 percent chance of being diagnosed with the disorder. Autism often is diagnosed by age 3.

"It was hard explaining this to family members that didn’t know about autism. Caeden was the first grandchild on both sides, so they think he hangs the moon," Barb said.

"We have been very blessed to have the support that we have from our family, friends and church members. From the beginning, when I didn’t feel like I could leave him while I loaded the dishwasher, got the laundry, prepared meals, things you have to do around the house, they would come over and help so he could have someone with him all the time."

Kelly Hancox

Caeden’s Cause for Autism takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the Arts Incubator Loft in the Crossroads Art District, 115 W. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo. Proceeds benefit the Kansas Center for Autism Research & Training, and the Kephart family.

"My nephew, Caeden, has made great progress during this year through the help of his behavioral therapy, specialized diet and total dedication from his parents," Hancox, Overland Park, said. "Caeden and other young children with autism need this specialized behavioral therapy. Caeden’s Cause for Autism exists to make it easier for young children to receive the critical therapy they need to be able to function independently in society as an adult."

Specialized behavioral therapy for autistic children costs an average of $60,000 per year, which is not covered by insurance companies.

Barb said time and money spent helping Caeden has placed a strain on the family.

"My sister-in-law, Kelly, has seen our effort to help Caeden since his diagnosis – finding a behavior therapist, trying to find a doctor who would help with food allergies and who was up-to-date on what could be tried since there isn’t a known cure, looking at biomedical options," Barb said. "She was inspired to start a fundraiser and we chose KCART. I’d heard a lot about the center and they’ve never had a fundraiser."

Barb said Caeden’s family is doing what they can to help him, because early intervention is critical to his lifelong success.

"Brain development has different stages and by age 5 the brain will start to pare down some of the communication areas he hasn’t fully accessed. This next year, we’re going to push to really keep his diet, keep his therapy intense and make sure we’re generalizing it at home," she said.

"We want to work as hard as we can to make sure every opportunity is taken full advantage of."

Caeden’s Cause for Autism takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arts Incubator Loft in the Crossroads Art District, 115 W. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo.

The event, sponsored by Garmin International, includes a benefit concert featuring Antennas Up, silent auction, and drinks and appetizers.

Proceeds benefit the Kansas Center for Autism Research & Training, and the Kephart family.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit caedenscause.googlepages.com/ or call 706-9407.

, sister of Caeden’s father, Corey, 34, has planned a fundraiser honoring Caeden.