Bikers rev up for autism

Bearing their most polished leather, bikers across the North Island took to the open road en masse, supporting a mother’s crusade to educate teachers about children with autism.

Sarah Blythe’s drive lured more than 100 riders on Sunday, whose contribution will help her fund a course for teachers on understanding and treating children with the disorder.

Bikers joined the excursion for $20, which took off from Feilding and headed out to Vinegar Hill, before it concluded at Himatangi, where there was a live band, bouncy castles and food.

The Manawatu¯ mother started the ride last year, after teachers said her son didn’t have autism but was poorly behaved and she was a bad parent. Blythe knew better and she wanted the teachers to know better, too.

Aucklanders Janine and Eoin Lawless made the trip south and know all too well the importance of promoting autism awareness, a disorder which can affect a person’s social skills and communication.

The couple had two sons with the condition but received little help following their diagnosis more than 15 years ago.

‘‘I said to the psychologist: Is that it? Do we just go home? And he said: Yeah, pretty much. There’s not much else we can do about it,’’ Eoin said.

The duo started riding motorcycles after growing tired of their two boys fighting in the back seat of their family vehicle.

‘‘Instead of having annoying kids in the back seat we put them on the back of a bike,’’ Eoin said. ‘‘They loved it.’’ Altogether Autism national manager Catherine Trezona said the courses would cost $200 per teacher, and provided teachers with strategies on how they could make classrooms autism friendly.

Children were easily overwhelmed, and subtle factors such as too much light or noise, and being given too many instructions, could spark a breakdown, Trezona said.

Diagnosing the condition was difficult, Trezona said.

‘‘ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder] is diagnosed by observing behaviour and the family history. It’s not a blood test.’’

Last year’s ride covered training for 34 Manawatu¯ teachers and there is already a waiting list this year.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Sarah Blythe has organised a motorcycle ride to raise thousands of dollars to send teachers from around the region to an autism awareness course. Sarah Blythe, Mataeo Blythe, 4, Neko Blythe, 7, Blair Worsley, and Deb Costello shortly before the motorcycle ride began.