Elwyn’s ‘angels’
inspire autism school

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Dave Butkiewicz remembers the way his autistic son Brian would tell him he wanted juice.
The youngster would take his dad’s hand, lead him to the refrigerator and point to the juice bottle.
Today, thanks to three years of private one-on-one instruction, the 6-year-old has made remarkable progress.
"My son went from staring into space to looking in my eyes and saying, ‘Dad, I want juice,’ " said the proud father.
Dave and Barbara Butkiewicz credit the staff at Elwyn, a non-profit human-services organization based in Delaware County, for bringing Brian along in his development.
The Tacony couple quantifies Brian’s improvement as "a thousand percent" and refers to his educators as "angels."
"They’ve changed my son. That’s what it’s all about," Dave Butkiewicz said.
Brian Butkiewicz is the couple’s second son. Older brother David is 10. The family lives on Barnett Street.
At age 2, Brian was diagnosed with autism, a developmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and difficulties in communicating. It affects one in 150 births.
Since Brian was 3, he has been taught by the folks from Elwyn. He receives 28 hours of uninterrupted instruction weekdays in his home, all funded by the state.
The boy sits at a SpongeBob SquarePants desk in his basement, with an instructor next to him providing learning programs mixed with play.
Every time the child adheres to one of "Brian’s Rules" — listening, sitting nicely, using his big boy voice, keeping his hands still and not screaming — he receives a token. When he accumulates five tokens, he gets a reward, such as watching a movie or playing with his Cookie Monster stuffed animal. Unlike many individuals with autism, Brian can speak, and his vocabulary is growing.
"He’s picking up new things every day," Barbara Butkiewicz said.
However, the early intervention program can’t last forever. The preschool-like education is for kids ages 3 to 6. By age 7, the children are required to take the next step — an autistic-support classroom in a public school.
Dave and Barbara Butkiewicz don’t think their son would receive the attention he needs in that setting and fear that he would fail to progress.
Children with autism, they believe, need to be given one-on-one care.
"They’re already trying to catch up, and they need that intense instruction in order to learn," Barbara Butkiewicz said.
While the Butkiewiczs can’t have Elwyn, they decided to seek the next-best option — opening a school of their own.
After conversations with the School District of Philadelphia and state House Speaker Dennis O’Brien, they founded Autistic Endeavors Charter School.
The couple has filed paperwork to become a non-profit company. They expect to make settlement next January on a vacant building that once housed a public school at James and Pratt streets in Frankford. They’ll buy the building for a nominal fee from the school district. The bulk of the operating budget, like for all charter schools, will come from state funds.
The plan is to open the school in September 2008. The couple will home-school Brian in the year before AECS opens.
When it opens, it will be the only tuition-free, autistic-support school in Philadelphia that provides one-on-one attention.
In a planning meeting, a school district official told the couple, "Build it, and they will come." There are an estimated 800 students diagnosed with autism in the school district.
In the first year, the school will educate 50 children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Enrollment will eventually grow to 250 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The school motto is, "Putting the puzzle together one piece at a time."
Speaker O’Brien, whose wife and Barbara Butkiewicz work together as nurses, will guide the school toward fund-raising sources and generous building trades for affordable renovations.
Dave Butkiewicz will serve as chief executive officer, and his wife will be president. They will hire staff early next year and will employ only the best for their son and all other kids with autism. They’re looking for qualified people who exude warmth, compassion, patience and love.
"It takes a special person to work with a special person," Dave Butkiewicz said. "Not everybody can do that."
Because of an anticipated demand, there will probably be a lottery to determine who gets accepted.
Once enrolled, every student will receive an individualized education program. The program is year round, and the student-teacher ratio is 1-to-1.
"Every child with autism is different. There are no two of the same," Dave Butkiewicz said. "Brian’s IEP only applies to Brian."
While the IEPs are different, the goal is the same: functional independence.
"Our goal is to have the children function in society, join the workforce and become a citizen," Dave Butkiewicz said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com

Eat, drink, be helpful . . .

The proposed Autistic Endeavors Charter School will hold a beef ’n’ beer fund-raiser on Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight at The Marsico, at 3515 Welsh Road in Holmesburg.
Tickets cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door. The cost includes open bar, food and free valet parking.
NBC-10 news anchorman Larry Mendte will be the guest speaker. The evening will include a 50-50, Chinese auction and a drawing for a basket of cheer.
For tickets or more information, call 215-360-1569 or visit autisticendeavors.org