Sherrie Petty of Helena said watching her son regress into the stages of autism was like going through the phases of dealing with his death, even though he's still alive. "It's like losing a child, but you still have him," said Petty, a 37-year-old mother of five.

Petty, like most parents dealing with an autistic child, isn't sure what caused her son's autism. Yet there is a part of her that can't help but wonder if vaccines didn't somehow contribute, because she started noticing symptoms one month after Macquire was given the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, usually administered to children around their first birthday.

Macquire -- a blue-eyed, fair-skinned, tow-headed 7-year-old who loves to be touched and hugged -- mimics words but says nothing spontaneous, although he does make sounds.

He is like many other autistic children. He lacks eye contact. He doesn't understand the give and take of social interaction. He thrives on routine and enjoys being engaged; however, it's not something he can do on his own.

In what has been reported as a landmark decision, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims determined last week to give compensation to the parents of a 9-year-old Georgia girl whose underlying disorder was worsened by vaccines and led to autism-like symptoms.

Medical personnel at the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation of the Department of Health and Human Services reviewed the facts of the case, as presented by the petition, medical records and affidavits. After a thorough review, DVIC concluded that compensation was appropriate .

The family will be paid from a federal fund that compensates people injured by vaccines.

Scientists say there is no scientific proof that vaccines or thimerosal -- a mercury-based vaccine preservative used until 2002 -- cause autism. However, 5,000 families in line for federal court say their lives are proof.

For Diana Tavary of Helena, there's no doubt that vaccines given to the youngest of her three daughters, McKenzie, now 17, are to blame for her autism.

McKenzie was vaccinated when she was 6 months old, and two months later started having uncontrollable epileptic seizures. It was so intense that she was hospitalized.

"That's when we lost her," Diana said.

A year later, McKenzie was diagnosed with autism.

Spectrum of autism

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically lasts throughout an entire lifetime, affecting a person's ability to communicate and interact with others.

There are various levels of autism on what professionals described as the "spectrum."

Some autistic people demonstrate odd movements, lack of eye contact and outbursts. Others, however, appear and function very normally. Some carry on conversations.

Last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that looked at a sample of 8-year-olds in 2000 and 2002 and concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen so that it affects one in every 150 American children and almost one in 94 boys.

Some researchers attribute the increase in those identified with autism in recent years to broader definitions and better understanding of the disorder.

Others say vaccines are the cause.

Joyce Burgett, manager of the immunization program of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said vaccines are extremely safe and guard against preventable diseases that are still a threat to American children.

"The risk of problems like that little girl (from Georgia) had are much less than the risk for their health from the disease (prevented by the vaccination)," she said.

Thimerosal has been removed from the recommended childhood vaccines, with the exception of some influenza vaccines, she added.

"Diseases don't recognize borders," Burgett said.

Measles have made it into the country, and polio is just a plane-ride away, and she said: "We have to keep immunization rates high so the diseases, when they are introduced, don't take hold because a lot of people are immunized."

From July 2006 to July 2007, 77.6 percent of Montana children between the ages of 19 months and 35 months received four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and accellular pertussis vaccine, according to data from a DPHHS survey.

The same survey found 89.2 percent of the children received three doses of polio vaccine; 90.6 percent received a dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines; 91.8 percent received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine; 81.8 percent received one dose of the chickenpox vaccine; 89.4 percent received three doses of pneumococcal vaccine and 71.4 percent received four doses of pneumococcal vaccine.

"We certainly have some work to do on the rates for the individual vaccines that are not at least 90 percent, but the private and public health care providers in Montana continue to work to educate the parents and immunize the children to prevent the vaccine preventable diseases," Burgett said.

Early intervention

The American Medical Association says there are 1.5 million Americans living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder, and estimates the cost of caring for a child with autism anywhere from $3.5 million to $5 million a year. That includes not only health care and research costs, but educational spending, housing, transportation and therapeutic services.

Professionals say autism is treatable, although not curable. Early diagnosis and intervention play a vital role in a child's development and ability to live a functional adult life.

Early intervention services are delivered to children from birth to age 3, and research shows a dramatic impact in reducing symptoms of autism spectrum disorders because young brains are so cognitively flexible.

Early intervention often reduces the need for intensive services throughout life and is critical to gain the maximum benefit from existing therapies.

In Helena, Family Outreach provides services to families who have young children with disabilities paid for through Medicaid.

Morgen Greely, family support coordinator from Family Outreach, said the program is the only early intervention available in four counties -- Powell, Jefferson, Broadwater and Lewis and Clark.

Family support specialists provide home-based education and support services to children with developmental delays and their families. Those services include teaching parenting skills, toilet training and physical and occupational therapy.

"It's really catered to the family and helping them find other resources," Greely said.

Family Outreach facilitates the transition into preschool, as well -- public or private. There are services available for older children through Family Outreach, but Medicaid funding is much more limited.

The Helena School District offers a special education preschool serving children with disabilities from ages 3 to 5 based on individual need. Children qualify for the program according to the criteria of disabilities established by the state of Montana. Once children are enrolled in public school, there are special education programs available that also are tailored to individual needs.

Learning environments

Because autism creates a sensorial malfunction, specially trained staff members help provide opportunities to stimulate students' senses. In preschool, this will look like spinning or swinging, but in kindergarten it changes some.

Years ago, children with disabilities would be put into a room, separated from the rest of the student body. But times have changed.

Currently there are 41 autistic children in the Helena School District who are integrated into regular classrooms.

In many cases, they work one-on-one with paraprofessionals who are charged with helping children with disabilities stay as much as possible in a regular classroom setting with peers.

Sherry Larson, occupational therapist for the district, says paraprofessionals have to be creative because they want students with disabilities to blend in with other students as much as possible.

Larson said students with autism typically like to move, so they get to do jobs like crushing cans or pushing heavy carts down the hallway to make deliveries.

"Every child is different and we evaluate them first to see what their system needs," Larson said, adding that sometimes students find themselves stimulated too much, while other times their reaction to stimulation is deficient."

The struggle at times is figuring out what autistic children need to function in a social environment.

For example, Macquire's verbal communication completely stopped by the time he was 2 years old, so he cannot say to his teacher, "I need to jump up and down for a few minutes."

Macquire is in Nicole Peterson's fourth-grade class at Four Georgians Elementary. It is obvious the other students there adore him.

"Every day the kids ask if they can walk with him," Peterson said. "Everybody loves to walk with him and hold his hand."

Classmate Kobi McGaha is one of these students. She doesn't mind a bit that he doesn't talk to her.

"I like to play with Macquire, and it's fun when he makes his noises," McGaha said.

Growing up autistic

Sherrie Petty can't help but worry sometimes what the future holds for her son, Macquire, because resources are expensive and funding is limited. And now she worries that her other son Mason, 2, is showing signs of autism, mostly because his language is so delayed.

"If we get that intervention going and get him to stay with us here instead of fading back into his autistic world, he'll have a better prognosis," she said.

The outlook is better today than in previous years, and with early intervention autistic people can lead highly functional lives.

Charlie Potter, 19, was diagnosed with autism at a very young age and had the benefit of early treatment. He currently works at Helena Industries, an organization that serves two groups of people -- those with developmental disabilities and those who need vocational rehabilitation.

Potter is one of 140 people currently honing job skills at Helena Industries and earning a wage based on his productivity.

Potter helps in many areas but is particularly fond of machinery. He works in the wood shop making wood pallets, survey stakes or yard sheds.

Charlie's parents, Doug and Ronda Potter, are just like other parents of children with disabilities faced with helping them live as adults in society.

"You want your child to be successful but when you have a handicapped child you set the bar lower," Doug said. "But it can be raised.

"Charlie may not take big steps, but a lot of little steps will get you to the same place eventually as the big steps will."

Doug can't say for sure whether the vaccines Charlie was given as an infant contributed to his autism, but admits that it was about the same time they started noticing his problems.

Science of autism

In a recent article, the Autism Society of America said it "believes that the science of autism causes and treatments need to be more vigorously researched."

The organization added that its hope is the decision to do so will be reached not through court rulings, but through thoughtful dialogue between parents and professionals on medical research and comprehensive treatment and services.

Burgett said if the majority of the population is immunized it has a "herd immunity" effect on the country.

She said that because the majority of the community is immunized, it protects children who may not be able to have immunizations because of complications with the ingredients or because they don't respond to the vaccine.

"Diseases are very real," Burgett said. "There are places in Africa that don't name their babies until they have been exposed to measles because so many of them die from disease."

But for some, like Diana Tavary, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Tavary said she'd like to be on the list of families taking their cases about autism linked to vaccines to federal court. She said a family friend warned her that there are potential dangers with vaccines, but she chose to get them for her children anyway.

"Now I just serve as a mouthpiece from my own experiences," she said.

Though she has quit giving her children immunizations, Sherrie Petty, who has a degree in nutrition, said believing claims about vaccines are tough, given her background.

"I've been trained to think vaccines are a really good thing," she said. "You can find information to argue either side."

Signs of autism

- Lack of/delay in spoken language

- Repetitive use of language or motor mannerisms (hand-flapping or twirling objects)

- Little or no eye contact

- Lack of interest in peer relationships

- Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play

- Persistent fixation on parts of objects

(Source: Autism Society of America)

Click here for information from the Autism Society of America.

Click here for information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Click here for information from Easter Seals.

Click here for information from Autism Speaks.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com