Son's autism spurs mom to write children's books

Jul. 20--For Amy Sellers, going to the store with her autistic son was a problem.

Invariably, Andrew would throw a tantrum, and there was nothing Sellers could do but face judgmental stares that implied, Why can't you control your kid?

So after Andrew memorized all of his Dr. Seuss books, going to the library or bookstore was not an appealing option. Andrew wouldn't like any old book: It had to rhyme and feature animals to hold his attention. So Sellers, an Apopka artist, decided to write and illustrate a book for him.

That project led Sellers, 41, to create the Out of the Rain Society, a nonprofit organization that supports autism causes.

Fifteen months after its inception, Sellers says the organization has raised $50,000. She aims to raise $1.6 million for autism research and to help local families coping with the disease. Sellers also hopes Out of the Rain will fund a local autism center.

Since he was diagnosed with autism, Andrew, who is about to turn 8, has made great strides. Along the way, his mother found her mission.

Now, she says, "My life is so much more meaningful."

Differences, paradoxes

Sellers first noticed that Andrew was different when he was a baby. Unlike her firstborn son, Asa, Andrew didn't gaze at his mother as he nursed.

As he grew older, Andrew showed other symptoms. He couldn't maintain eye contact. He couldn't answer a simple question such as, "Do you want milk?" He would simply repeat the question.

And then there were the paradoxes. For example, Andrew was sensitive to touch -- he preferred polyester clothes to cotton, which he found scratchy -- yet he could not feel scalding hot water or the bites of dozens of fire ants, which he once suffered.

Finally, Sellers was referred to an assessment center for children.

When she first heard the term "autism," she didn't know much about the disease -- except what she remembered from the movie Rain Man, in which Dustin Hoffman plays an autistic adult who cannot function independently.

"I was scared to death," Sellers says.

But after he was diagnosed, Andrew entered therapy and quickly began to progress.

Inspiring the children

After Sellers wrote and illustrated Andrew's book -- called Hurray For Rhyme, It's Story Time, a collection of rhyming poems -- her older son, Asa, suggested she publish it. Sellers suggested they donate the money they would make to find a cure for autism.

She founded the Out of the Rain Society, named so because when it rains, she says, some autistic children can see every raindrop -- but they can't see beyond the rain. Sellers has since collaborated with other writers to illustrate several children's books.

With Susie Gallucci, a motivational speaker and author from Apopka, Sellers created the "I Can Clan" series, picture books that focus on kid characters named Dream and Believe who succeed despite obstacles.

The books do not address autism, but they aim to offer inspirational themes.

Sellers says she illustrates them in a way that appeals to Andrew and other autistic children. Sellers donates a third of book proceeds to the foundation. She gives all proceeds from her artwork to the Society.

"She is what I call a mother on a mission," says April Rogers, 35, mother of four children, including two autistic boys.

Laurie Staples, whose daughter, Caitlyn, is autistic, also applauds Sellers' efforts.

"We need to build a system where families don't feel lost," says Staples, 35, of Apopka. "They need to know, there is help out there."

Because of the help Andrew received, he will attend a regular second grade class this year.

Sellers attributes her son's success to early intervention -- and she hopes to help other children like him, and parents like her.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

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