Everyone is all smiles in the latest Bourdier family photo taken this spring. From left are Crawford, Hester, Susie, Paul, Missy and George Bourdier.

She’s been called many things through the years including Mom. This week the photographer, Scott Breaux, who recently took their family portrait and has known Hester Patout Bourdier for decades, called her “Wonder Woman.”

Her frequent stylish and creative headpieces demand the title Queen be attached — and she truly reigns in her family’s life. However, upon meeting Queen Hester, the sometimes shy woman takes only a little time to get to know — but as any mother would say, don’t mess with my child.

Bourdier is a force to be reckoned with if the health of her second born child comes into question or anyone in her family for that matter. Her candid but informed conversation is one she will have with anyone needing more information about autism and the physical issues that accompany this genetic spectrum disorder. There is a vast difference between treatments and theories about whether Autism Spectrum Disorder is a mental illness or physical condition. She’s done the research, and lives to tell others.

May is mental health month and due to the rise in number of diagnoses in recent years, autism is the subject for this year’s perspective. The wide range of differences need to be addressed in the early stages of childhood development. Whether a discussion with education professionals, medical personnel or others whose lives have been touched by these special children, it is generally agreed, a mother’s intuition is the first place to look for a diagnosis.

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears in the DSM V which is a diagnostic manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose autism and other mental health disorders,” said Phyllis T. Babineaux, MSW, LCSW and facilitator for the monthly family caregiver’s support group sponsored by the Iberia Mental Health Initiative. “Autism is a very broad disorder with many characteristics but generally is lifelong and affects communication and social interactions between the person and other people.”

Babineaux said it is considered to be a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first few years of life and continue throughout one’s life. These types of behaviors make it difficult for someone to function properly in educational and work settings as well as social settings. However, with proper care and support, someone with autism can make the most of his or her strengths and lessen their difficulties, she said.

“It is important for parents to get services and supports as soon as possible when there is a professional diagnosis of autism or a suspicion that it might be autism,” Babineaux said. “A consultation with the public school system, if it is a school age child, may provide information on available help with supports and services through the IEP (individualized education program) process.”

Parents of autistic children are key to their child’s development.

“It’s a 60-hour-a-week job,” said Bourdier. “You’re either at the doctor, occupational therapy, speech therapy, getting IV’s, or special education classes. (Crawford) is smart. For many years he didn’t understand language. His ears worked perfectly fine, but between the ear and the brain, something was going wrong. Seizures were causing problems that made him hurt, but he couldn’t tell what was going on. It hurt to touch him, clothes, everything hurt him. My parents were fabulous. We had a lot of bills so my husband was working all the time. Paul is first and foremost family. But I couldn’t have done it without my parents.”

Bourdier has researched to become informed and has come to believe through experience that autism is intricately woven into physical health and is not exclusively a mental disorder as some believe. From observation, she has formed her own opinion about a factor in her son’s autism.

Of the four children in the Bourdier family, the first two were vaccinated, the younger two were not. The younger siblings have consistently been the healthier of the six household members because their systems developed natural antibodies rather than requiring the body to process the now 78 vaccines of mixed man-made and chemically reproduced ingredients.

“Everybody acts like, ‘If you don’t vaccinate your kids, they’re going to die.’ Did all our grandparents die out? If we needed vaccines to stay alive, the human race would have been extinct before now,” Bourdier said. “They are not what they once were when we were young.”

For more information

The Iberia Parish School Board’s attention to Special Education and recent new training for teachers and administrators thanks to a three-year grant, will be featured in an additional story during May. Autism early detection and specialized education affects the whole family. For adults suspecting a child might have developmental issues, testing is possible at early ages. Plus, there are support groups to help. Call 944-4171 to inquire.