Mom credits school program for son's heroic efforts

Amanda Butterfield reportingThe mother of an autistic boy in Tooele is praising the school district's new autism program. She said it taught her son to talk, and it literally saved her life.

Eleven-year-old Craig Draper has autism. His mother, Michelle, says, "In our case, he'll just stare at you, and he won't answer. You know he can hear you, but he'll just stare at you."

And he never talked. But that's changed! He is a little hard to understand, but it's huge progress. Craig is in the new autism unit at Stansbury Park Elementary. A group of parents with Action for Autism asked the Tooele School District to meet the needs of their autistic kids.

Michale Berryhill, with the autism unit, says, "Our district agreed to back us on the program, and it has been the best thing ever."

Now, teachers who specialize in autism teach the kids, and every student has improved. "They love it, they love coming to school, they are happy," Berryhill said.

Last week, Michelle, who was six months pregnant, went into labor. She was in so much pain that she couldn't reach the phone. Craig ran to the neighbor's house and was able to tell the neighbor what happened.

The neighbor understood, got help, and Rachel Ann was born. Craig would never have been able to do that before the class. "I am grateful they started the class ‘cause he has developed a lot. He could barely talk, and now he talks on a regular basis," Michelle said.

His teachers are proud too. Berryhill said, "I never in a million years thought he was able to do that. We just call him our little miracle boy."

All that happened last week. Rachel Ann, or Craig's baby, as he calls her, is healthy. She'll be in ICU for about a month.

By the way, April is National Autism Awareness month.

E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com

Related topics