AUBURN - It is estimated that one in about every 150 people are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism impairs the ability of those affected to communicate and relate to others, which can be caused by a feeling of being overwhelmed by loud noises and other sensory overload situations.

Autism sufferers will often isolate themselves and live by rigid and repetitive behavior, leaving them unable to express their pains and discomforts.

When Justin Lockhart, 6, of Auburn, was just a little more than 2, he had already started to spell using wooden block letters, but he was not talking.

“He didn't speak until he was 3 1/2,#” his mother, Jamie Lockhart, said. “But he had taught himself to read and to spell early on as a way to express himself. He is a very intelligent boy and early on we saw that his intelligence is there, but when things get overwhelming he has a hard time communicating. He has always had a hard time with loud noises and things like that are overwhelming to his senses.”

After noticing that Justin was not communicating verbally, Jamie and her husband, Jeffery, sought out help for their young boy.

The Lockharts found help in the form of occupational therapist Bob Trapani, who quickly began working with Justin.

Lockhart said Trapani has done a great deal to help Justin and to continue to work with him over the past several years.

Part of that work has included video taping his work with Justin to take to Total Approach, a facility located in Pennsylvania.

“They are familiar with Justin and his situation,” Jamie said. “Bob has taken back tapes when he has gone there to do trainings and things and through Bob we found out about Total Approach and what they have to offer.”

The facility, which hosts a group of occupational and speech/language pathologists, have pre-screened Justin for its program called Tomatis Therapy.

Jamie explained that this particular course of therapy has been found to be effective in addressing sensory integration challenges and auditory processing disorders.

While there is no cure for autism, Jamie believes that this course of treatment could be very beneficial for her son.

“There is a lot more out there than what is in Auburn or Syracuse,#” she said. “Not every type of treatment is going to be effective for every person that has autism; different things are going to work for different people. But the best thing we can do is make informed decisions and do what we think will be the best to help Justin.”

Jamie said the treatment is an intensive course broken into three separate sessions, with the first lasting three weeks and the remaining two lasting 10 days each.

In New York there are no laws requiring that autism be covered under medical insurance and these treatments at Total Approach, as well as other treatments for those with autism can be very expensive. Coupled with the fact that travel is increasingly expensive, the Lockhart family has endured many struggles.

However, friends and supporters gathered at the Polish Falcons Sunday to help with a fundraiser to defer the costs of travel and treatment.

“It is really overwhelming,” Jamie said. “We have had so much support. Even people that couldn't be here today still bought tickets just to help out and show their support. This is really overwhelming to see how great everybody has been.”

Along with a brunch buffet, there were several silent auctions.

Jamie seemed touched by the display of support from the community, and expressed hopefulness that her efforts and her son's story would help to make people more aware of autism and what families face.

“I just hope people can become more informed,” Jamie said. “There is more out there if you just keep looking. The important thing is to try to make the right choice for what is going to work. I hope people will do their research and they will find what is out there and what they will benefit from.”

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For more information, visit www.helpjustinscause.com