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December 17, 2010 in City
Riders from Sandpoint focus on autism
Team hopes to raise awareness of condition – and $1 million
Jackson Barth, 12, shares a laugh with his parents, David and Lisa Barth, during a video interview in Sandpoint on Monday. Jackson, who has autism, is the inspiration for a group from Sandpoint that will compete next June in Race Across America, one of the nation’s most challenging endurance bicycle races.
(Full-size photo)
For the past 12 years, David and Lisa Barth, of Sandpoint, have cocooned around their small family, maxed out with the day-to-day challenge and joy of raising an autistic son.
But now they’ve been inspired to use their experience to raise awareness about autism in this region. A connection with a group of Sandpoint bicyclists taking on one of the country’s biggest endurance challenges in the name of autism has provided that opportunity.
“We feel like nobody gets this,” David Barth, 41, said of his family’s struggle with 12-year-old Jackson’s condition. “It’s felt lonely, it’s felt isolating, and at times really sad. The inspiration to do something like the ride, it’s bigger than just us. Here’s a group of people who are so inspired to do something big and quality for the greater good.”
The family has become the inspiration for Team Laughing Dog, which will hit the road June 12 in California and not stop until they reach Maryland, 3,000 miles away. The team is competing in the Race Across America, a round-the-clock grind that touches 14 states and climbs more than 100,000 feet.
David Barth has joined the team’s 14-member support crew and the family has been working to build connections with organizations and families of autistic children in the Inland Northwest.
“For me, this is what I want to be doing in my life, expanding, growing, being connected, versus feeling alone and isolated,” David Barth said.
Teams competing in RAAM usually finish in six to nine days, averaging 350 to 500 miles per day. Teams use a relay format, with at least one rider on the road all the time. The race is open to teams of eight, four and two riders. There is also a solo division.
Team Laughing Dog’s four-man team consists of Mel Dick, Al Lemire, Wayne Pignolet, Jacob Styer and alternate Mike Murray.
Their goal is to finish in seven days and raise $1 million for autism. They’ve already raised $10,000 through fundraisers, news stories and word-of-mouth.
The team knows they’ve set a lofty goal. The RAAM website says that in each of the past three years, all the participants, collectively, have raised about $1 million for a variety of charities.
But Dick looks at it this way:
“If 100,000 people could have the opportunity to understand what autism is, and how it impacts people, and how prevalent it really is, would they give $10 each? When you start thinking about it that way, we think maybe we can do this.”
Autism funding could use the boost, they say. The spectrum of complex developmental brain disorders now affects one in every 110 American children, including one in every 70 boys, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. An estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. Government statistics suggest the prevalence is increasing 10 to 17 percent annually, perhaps due in part to improved diagnosis, according to Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization.
That organization points out that autism affects more people than leukemia, muscular dystrophy or pediatric AIDS, but private funding for it falls far behind those other conditions. The autism spectrum refers to a group of disorders including Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
The team wants to connect with a national autism organization that has a Northwest chapter in order to keep the money raised here, creating programs that will continue year after year and not be “one and done,” Dick said. A 10,000-mile ride Dick did two years ago raised about $30,000 for the Panhandle Alliance for Education. That money helped start a Sandpoint program that prepares children for kindergarten, now in its third year.
“To be able to help the community is really what it’s all about,” Dick said.
Team Laughing Dog, named for its Sandpoint brewery sponsor, also includes a support crew that will drive two vans and a recreational vehicle. They’ve also been sponsored by Pend d’Oreille Winery, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Sandpoint Sports, Keokee Publishing and Trinity at City Beach. The team anticipates the race will cost $40,000 so they have launched a two-pronged fundraising effort – one for the team and one for autism.
“One hundred percent of the donations made for autism will go toward autism,” Dick said.
The team gathered Monday in their indoor training room to film a promotional video interview with the Barths. During the hour the adults talked, Jackson squirmed happily between his parents, squealing with delight – and causing the room to erupt in laughter – when dogs came in or when his dad’s watch timer went off.
“Jackson’s got a great sense of humor,” David Barth said. “He is just blissful when he’s ‘on.’ It’s the innocence, the lack of filter, the lack of socially learned ‘norms’ … that is such a great thing to be around every day.”
The Barths hope the group’s effort will raise money for expanded training and support programs stretching as far north as Bonners Ferry.
“We do several things because people are willing to adjust their gymnastics class, their music class, their art class to include us, so I just think continuing to see those kinds of opportunities for families … is huge,” said Lisa Barth, 45. It’s quality of life, “which I think is what parents want for their children whether they’re challenged or not. That’s why we’re part of this effort.”
Two Fernwood residents dead after Monday accident 
oneanddone on December 17 at 4:02 a.m.
The motive here is great but autism is rapidly becoming one of those diagnoses that parents go doctor shopping for, in order to justify their kid’s bad behavior. Maybe they should try facing the fact that they’re just lousy parents. I’ve seen autism up close and what now passes for “high functioning” cases is not it. The bigger issue is likely psychologists attempting to justify their witch doctor profession.
AmyY on December 17 at 6:37 a.m.
oneanddone - I’m afraid your ignorance about this neurological disorder is showing. Getting a diagnosis of autism is actually very difficult. It takes months to get an appointment with a specialist and that’s only with a referral from a primary physician who often times is unwilling to give that referral. Having to deal with a complicated and exhausting system of services and providers (educational, therapeutic, insurance, medical etc.) is something that very few people desire to do.
Children are not nonverbal because of ‘bad parenting’. Children do not have mitochondrial dysfunction (see link below) because of ‘bad parenting’. Children do not have sleep disturbances for years because of ‘bad parenting’. Children do not have serious and real medical issues that exacerbate their condition (like chronic constipation, diarrhea, seizures) because of ‘bad parenting’.
I suggest you locate a local parent support group meeting and attend a meeting to get to know families who are dealing with this disorder so you might get a better understanding of the issues.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101130161521.htm
dkwetzel on December 17 at 7:24 a.m.
Support your local Autism Society! Go to:
http://www.panhandleautismsociety.com/
and make a donation today!
Every day, 60 families across America will learn that their child has autism. In North Idaho, it is estimated that there are almost 500 individuals are affected by autism.
What does the Panhandle Autism Society do?
• Provide information, referral and support for families
• Education opportunities for parents and professionals working with individuals on the spectrum
• Community awareness about autism spectrum disorders to lessen the prejudice towards and ignorance about these individuals in our community
mikestrain on December 17 at 8:55 a.m.
All of us up here in Sandpoint are so proud of the Barths, Team Laughing Dog, and all the supporters and business sponsors that are getting behind this cause! Here is a video regarding the Race Across America and Team Laughing Dog -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jf9St5BkzM
lewis8457 on December 17 at 9:26 a.m.
Mikestrain thank you for that link. I only hope they make it safe. Good luck.
oneonone you have no idea what your talking about. I can not believe anyone could be so ignorant. Increase diagnoses is caused by the foods our children eat.
alisonb on December 17 at 9:41 a.m.
Lewis
David and Lisa Barth said their son Jackson’s condition has been improved through changes in his diet, in particular going gluten and dairy free and using supplements to help him rid his body of the metals he could not excrete. Like, I would imagine, many parents of autistic children, they have intensively researched the environmental factors they actually have control over to improve his life as much as possible.
Alison Boggs
lewis8457 on December 17 at 9:45 a.m.
here you go I know everyone loves links. Next time your at a grocery store look at the baby foods and cereal and see how many have aspartame in them. Then visit these links. also why your there check out the children flavored drinks.
http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html
Consider this, out of all the complaints that the FDA receives every single year, adverse reactions to the artificial sweetener aspartame comprises about 80 percent of consumer complaints.
Read more: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/aspartame-side-effects.html#ixzz18OKCHC9G
and even though it has been proven to be poison it is becoming more common to find it our children’s food.
MrNatural on December 17 at 11:46 a.m.
Great link lewis…great article…I have a dear friend who’s son has Asperger’s syndrome. He is a wonderful person who has seen success by improved efforts in diet and medication and better recognition and treatments toward autism
As for the aspartame…well not wanting to be political but recalling a very important fact…see link:
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/361.html
marytormey on December 20 at 7:32 p.m.
I am extremely concerned about Peter Bell of Autism speaks.
I want to barrow the words of John Gilmore, “Autism Speaks still has the former worldwide Risperdal marketing manager, Peter Bell, in a key executive position. And as far as I am concerned Mr. Bell has a lot of questions to answer about what he knew, and when, about the side-effects of Risperdal and Janssen’s efforts to keep that information from the public.”
My brother was diagnosed as Autistic like around 1983. The toddler who felt the need to unscrew things did not know that he should back away from a hot stove. My parents had our IQ’s tested Davids IQ was below normal and mine was 130. David went away to a group home and was given so many drugs he started having
seizure and died at 16.
Over time the definition of Autism has become more inclusive. I got my AS degree before being diagnosed.
In my opinion Autism is a genetic autoimmune disorder that is trigged by environmental factors. Being forced to take Risperdal was the most horrible experience of my life and my Autistic symptoms have been much worse since then. I have a hard time listening to music and watching TV. My dentist does not even need anesthetic anymore. Things that used to be fun, are now overwhelming.
I am extremely concerned about Peter Bell of Autism speaks.
I want to barrow the words of John Gilmore, “Autism Speaks still has the former worldwide Risperdal marketing manager, Peter Bell, in a key executive position. And as far as I am concerned Mr. Bell has a lot of questions to answer about what he knew, and when, about the side-effects of Risperdal and Janssen’s efforts to keep that information from the public.”