After learning that two of her three children had been diagnosed
with autism, Catherine Maurice watched with despair as both her son and
daughter lost their words, understanding and smiles. She tried various
therapies to slow the progression of the disorder, including "holding
therapy," which is based on the painful premise that autism results from
faulty bonding between mother and child. But nothing seemed to
help.
Then Maurice read an article in Psychology Today on Ivar Lovaas,
Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of California at Los
Angeles. Lovaas had studied the effects of applied behavior analysis--a
comprehensive behavioral approach to basic life lessons--on severely
autistic children. In his studies, after two years of working with 19
children for 40 hours a week, nine of them showed significant advances in
their social, cognitive and academic skills and scored within the range
of normal intelligence. In comparison, none of the 19 autistic children
who received only 10 hours a week of the same therapy achieved a normal
IQ.
Stunned by these results, Maurice implemented the principles of
behavior analysis with her own children. Today, both her teenage son and
daughter are academically and socially successful, have recovered from
autism and don't meet any of the disorder's diagnostic criteria.
But her work was far from over. Worried that information about
behavior analysis wasn't readily available to parents in similar
situations, Maurice, who has a Ph.D. in literary criticism, decided to
write Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph Over Autism (Fawcett,
1994). In it, she describes the unsuccessful treatment methods she had
tried, the bad advice she received and how behavior analysis ultimately
helped her children. "My book takes the reader through all the
uncertainty you [have] as a parent," Maurice says, " and the crazy
therapies that are out there."
Today, Maurice presides over the Association for Science in Autism
Treatment, which works to disseminate accurate information about autism
and improve access to scientifically sound treatments. "Information is
only part of the picture; people also need help in trying to access any
kind of effective treatment," Maurice explains. "We have a very ambitious
mission. We're just trying to put one foot in front of the other."
-- Amy Weiss
JOHN PEPPER
Over the years, John Pepper has devoted himself to nurturing a
positive self-image among Cincinnati youth and preparing them for
successful careers. He supports a wide variety of programs, including
Every Child Succeeds, which focuses on enhancing a child's cognitive and
social development. Among corporate executives, Pepper, chair of Proctor
& Gamble in Cincinnati, has distinguished himself by his strong
commitment to the emotional development and well-being of children and
young adults.
As vice chair of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and a board
member of the Partnership for a Drug Free America and The National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Pepper works to increase the
percentage of inner-city high school graduates. According to Pepper, "I
want to help individuals to develop their full potential--through
understanding, mutual caring and support; by taking action to promote
healthy development for children."
Pepper next intends to tackle America's historic legacy of slavery
in the hope that increased understanding will promote racial harmony and
contribute to society's overall well-being. Alongside Reverend Andrew
Young, a former United Nations Ambassador, Pepper co-chairs the
development campaign for The National Underground Railroad Freedom
Center. This $106 million museum and research/education center is due to
open in late 2003.
"In the 21st century, the United States shall overcome the legacy
of slavery," reads the vision statement for the center. "We will create a
society where shame gives way to pride, oppression bows to freedom, and
every individual is encouraged to learn, to grow and to contribute. Our
nation will serve as a beacon, celebrating the oneness of the human
spirit in the ongoing quest for freedom around the world."
The center has already begun honoring individuals for their
contributions to racial understanding with its annual Underground
Conductor Awards. The first two recipients were Rosa Parks and South
Africa's Bishop Desmond Tutu. Under Pepper's leadership, The Freedom
Center will continue to dedicate its efforts toward healing the racial
divide in America.
-- Irena Choi Stern
ROSALYNN CARTER
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has devoted more than 30 years to
educating the public about the causes of mental disorders and to lobbying
for adequate insurance coverage. Many of Carter's initiatives have been
written into law--for instance, she was honorary chair of the President's
Commission on Mental Health, which helped pass the Mental Health Systems
Act of 1980.
"It has been gratifying to see the progress that has been made,"
Carter says. "But there is still much to accomplish to improve the
quality of life for those who suffer." To this end, she co-wrote the book
Helping Someone with Mental Illness: A Compassionate Guide for Family,
Friends and Caregivers (Times, 1999) with Susan Golant. This resource won
the American Society of Journalists and Authors award for the best
self-help book of 1999.
