A cleanroom miracle
08/01/2003
I was barely 18 when he plowed through the door of the Respite House, where I was interviewing for a part-time job working with the developmentally disabled.
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He was lanky, but intimidating in those padded gloves and that masked hockey helmet as he bounced around the room, punching himself about the face and head.
DJ was a frequent visitor to the Respite House, and no one really understood why he was self-abusive.
We also did not try to figure out why other visitors with autism were incapable of things we consider simple, but could rattle off 73,437 when asked to multiply 5,649 by 13.
People with autism seemingly lead lonely lives, but most never know it because many live life without awareness of surroundings or interest in other people. Certain sounds, smells and foods, however, can trigger such behaviors as self-abusiveness, hypertension and terror, which combined with their distant ways is also frustrating and painful for people who love them.
They are indeed products of their respective environments, and that's where the cleanroom comes into the picture, thanks to a program devised by Karen Slimak, an environmental toxicologist from Virginia.
For several years, Slimak has been developing a theory that symptoms of autism are caused by the body's exposure to volatile organic compounds. While coverage is forthcoming in CleanRooms, her theory seems to be the furthest thing from a hypothesis; for living for a time in a cleanroom under a strict regiment has already yielded miraculous results for 49 children with autism.
It is important to understand and embrace the fact that contamination control technology will not only yield the medicines and electronic devices of tomorrow. There are other miracles occurring in cleanrooms, and these blessings are changing the lives of people, who, if you ever have the privilege to meet them, will touch your life forever.
Mark A. DeSorbo
Associate Editor