Eating Disorders

... Brentwood Press March 09, 2007 Local News Business Columnists Dining Education Entertainment & Arts Milestones Opinions Real Estate Recreation Siren Sounds Sports HOME / OAKLEY LOCAL NEWS Email this to a friend Print this article Special parents care for a special child Jennifer Birkland, Brentwood Press Published 03/09/2007 - 6:16 p.m.

Nathaniel Bucher, shown here with dad Robert and sister Hannah.ABOUT THE AUTHORJennifer BirklandEmail:jenniferb@brentwoodp...Nathaniel Bucher is a sweet-faced boy with an infectious grin and boundless energy.

He attends a local elementary school, enjoys computer games and is the proud owner of a brand-new puppy.

To the outside world he is much like any other 6-year-old.But Nathaniel is different from most kids: he has autism, a pervasive developmental disorder that affects as many as 1 out of 150 children nationwide each year, more than two-thirds of them male.

The numbers have increased so significantly over the past decade that researchers are calling it an urgent public concern.For Robert and Debbie Bucher, their adopted son’s diagnosis two years ago has always been an urgent concern.

Their biggest challenge has been to create for their son, and their family, a sense of normalcy and consistency in a life that has been anything but.“I’m not going to lie to you and say this is easy,” said Robert.

“At first it was a blow to realize that there was a problem, and as a parent this is certainly not what you want for ...

Read more...