An adventurous autistic
Echoes flood the house. The tap drips loudly in the kitchen. The neighbor’s lawnmower roars outside the door. Barking comes in through the window and mixes with whispers from the television. On the wall, the clock ticks in rhythm. Normal sounds. Everyday sounds. Harmless. At least, it seems.
For a portion of the population, these sounds can cause enormous discomfort, including pain. For people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or Autism, everyday life resonates differently. Autistic people have superior sensitivity in one or more senses simultaneously, that is, it is not only through the ears that they can feel acute discomfort, but also through touch, smell, taste and vision. For this reason, maintaining a routine of times, places, actions and even people are important for the routine of people with the syndrome, who also have difficulty relating to each other and developing communication and social interaction skills. These limiting barriers did not prevent the excitement and smile on the face of 10-year-old Luccas Ev, who was presented, together with his mother and sisters, with an unexpected, exciting and unprecedented adventure.
After reading an article in the local newspaper, Luccas’ mother, Fabiane, got in touch with her friend and columnist Aurélio, seeking to find out more about the activity he had published a week earlier. In the article, Aurélio reported his experience with Brasil Raft Park, where he went rafting and spent the day with his family. For Fabiane, making a descent with her family would be like making a dream come true. However, the mother could not imagine how her son would behave during the activity, after all, the environment would be extremely new for him and there was no way to measure the possibilities of the trip triggering a nervous breakdown in Luccas.
Autism Spectrum Disorder covers several neurological areas linked to syndromes that are similar in their characteristics. These disorders present several unknowns for researchers, as the disease has evolved slowly. In the second half of 2014, the team led by Brazilian geneticist Karina Griesi Oliveira identified a mutation in a gene called TRPC6 and, with the help of North American universities, transformed the cell into a neuron into which a healthy TRPC6 gene was inserted. The symptoms of the disorder disappeared. “In no way does it mean a cure for autism. We would need to test this in patients and, mainly, we imagine, as autism can be caused by different genes, it may be that this drug only has an effect on patients who have changes in this gene specifically”, said Karina, co-author of the research.
Luccas’ family outings are always planned so that everyone can enjoy the experience with the same intensity. To achieve this, it was essential that Luccas felt comfortable inside an inflatable boat in the middle of the green jungle, in an environment that was sometimes calm and sometimes busy. “I asked Aurélio about the structure of the place, security, in short, about everything. He also gave me the Brasil Raft Park website and page, so I could get an idea of what it was like. He said he would talk to people, to see how it could be done with Luccas and if he would really be able to do the tour.” reports Fabiane, who arrived early on Sunday morning, so that the boy could adapt to the place, the people and that new world of sounds and images, tastes and aromas.
“Luccas really likes water, but he’s very afraid when he’s in a place he doesn’t know,” says Fabiane. Luccas’ eyes watched the boat surfing on the wave, a game carried out on a stretch of the river within the park’s facilities. When Luccas sees one of the blue boats parked on the shore, he asks if he can touch it with his hands, his mother responds yes and asks him if he wanted to sail on that boat, to which the boy immediately responds: “Yes, I do!”, to the happy surprise of his mother, who at that moment knew that the trip would take place. And with Luccas!
All the adventure procedures were moments of curiosity for Luccas. The equipment, the instruction, the truck ride to the rafting starting point, upriver. The sound of water running down the dam walls. The birds, the greenery, the rapids. An adventure for your senses. Upon entering the boat, Luccas waved his arms, according to his mother, as a sign of joy and excitement. “Rafting, for us, was really a beautiful and delicious adventure. Even that feeling of fear and butterflies in the stomach it gives is a good thing. The fear of the boat capsizing; what if the rain got too heavy; and what if Lucas had a severe nervous breakdown” reports Fabiane, who saw rafting as a strengthening factor for family unity. “We felt protected, thanks to the dear and competent instructors, Will and Evair, who kept an eye on Lucas’ reactions at all times and invited him to take part in the tour with the group. The place is incredible! The vegetation around the route, the Paranhana River with that strong rapid that from afar seems so harmless, even the rain added an extra charm to the tour, it gave an atmosphere of suspense. The girls and I felt like we were in one of those movies where people are in the boat and don’t know what awaits them. further ahead.”
At 2 years old, Luccas still couldn’t speak, which led Fabiane to refer him to several doctors, until finally, after half an hour of evaluation by a neuropediatrician, Fabiane received confirmation: Luccas is autistic. A few weeks were needed to absorb the information. “One morning I woke up and said to myself out loud: If I had received that beautiful boy, with that limitation, it was because I had some great purpose”, she says emotionally, “but at the time I had no idea what it would be. Luccas came into the world, to strengthen the union and complicity between our little family. He made me known, a Fabiane that I had no idea existed, a strong person, more down to earth. Because of him, I felt very loved, by him and by the people who care about your well-being. Through him, I met really special people, who make a difference in the lives of others, people willing to help, talk, give affection and show that not everything is lost.”
Although Eugen Bleuler used the term “Autism” for the first time in 1908, there is still a lot of prejudice about the disease. Much of the prejudice is due to lack of information. In Brazil, in 2014, law 12,764 was sanctioned, establishing the National Policy for the Protection of the Rights of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder, recognizing autistic people as disabled, expanding and protecting their rights as people with special needs. The law is seen by experts as a driver for the inclusion of the class in the education system, as the text establishes the right to study in regular schools, basic or vocational education, being able to request a specialized companion if necessary.
Luccas, whose passion is animals and means of transport, is a successful case of inclusion in the regular school where he studies. He, who has a special affection for the exclusive companion that the school offers, loves the school environment, as well as the teachers and staff, and also the therapist, who he visits weekly. With the curious look of someone contemplating something new, Luccas did very well on the rafting. He felt comfortable, he felt good, he enjoyed and had fun with the trip. “The rafting trip exceeded all my expectations. Lucas, even with a look of surprise, faced with something new, took it in stride and had fun, along with the group. “I recommend this outdoor activity for parents of autistic people, because even if the boat trip doesn’t happen on the first visit, the tour around the place is very worth it. It is a place to behold, it serves as a beautiful place to take a family trip and Brasil Raft is well prepared to welcome them”, says Fabiane, who saw in the activity a door with new possibilities and paths for Luccas and his family. And she adds: “Special are the people who help us create and make dreams come true!”