How Autism Turned Into A Life-Saving Mission For Mom
CHICAGO (CBS) -- April is autism awareness month.
CBS 2's Susan Carlson takes a closer look at how one Chicago-area woman turned her son's diagnosis into a life-saving mission helping hundreds of other families.
25-year-old Jason Harlan helps his mom make smoothies for breakfast everyday and he finds comfort in tearing strips of paper. His bedroom is neat and tidy.
"His pajamas have to stay right here, because if i move them, it's a problem," said Harlan's mother, Debra Vines.
Today, the odds are having a child with autism are one in 50. When Jason was diagnosed as a toddler, the odds were just one in 1,000.
"It was something that was very horrific for my husband and I because we had never heard the word autism before," Vines said.
Vines says she always struggled finding answers to help Jason when he was young.
"I felt so isolated being an African-American because there were no resources or support in our community," she said.
So six years ago, she started her own support group for parents in the same situation, called The Answer Incorporated.
"We are an organization that gives a hand-holding from diagnosis to death," Vines said.
The Answer holds activities including monthly meetings, counseling, expert speakers, nutrition programs, even dances.
