The world would be a frustrating place if you had severe autism. Bright lights and noisy rooms could overwhelm your senses. Body language would be incomprehensible to you. And should you try to express yourself, people might not understand you.

These limitations make communication challenging whether it be with a teacher, another student or an attorney.

It's for this reason Henry Cozad may never stand trial on the charge of murdering his father's girlfriend last week in Coos Bay. His father and the district attorney say he suffers from severe autism. He has been sent to Salem for a mental evaluation. If he is found to have a severe mental disability, whether or not it's autism, it would be impossible for him to explain his story to the lawyer defending him.

He may not even realize something wrong happened, said Vicki Goodrich, a former South Coast Education Service District board member and mother of an autistic son. Although she has never met Cozad, Goodrich said if he has severe autism, then he likely doesn't understand what is going on.

"I feel so bad for him. I hope they understand his world and autism," she said. "He has no concept of death or murder."

What is autism?

There is a fair amount of mystery surrounding autism, a cognitive disability that normally appears in a child's second year. Its cause hasn't been proven and it affects people differently.

Kelly Donaghay, an autism specialist with South Coast ESD, describes it as a spectrum with varying degrees. At the high-end, students with minimal autism have social issues.

"It's not knowing how to go up to someone and introduce themselves," she said. "They don't understand the give and take of conversation."

At the other end of the spectrum, students can't talk. They have trouble communicating their feelings and have trouble understanding what's going on around them.

Goodrich likens it to having duct tape put over your mouth. You still want to communicate, but you're limited in how you do it.

"All behavior they exhibit is communication of some form," said George Woodruff, superintendent of South Coast ESD. "They just don't know how to express it."

Sometimes autistic people lose patience and their behavior becomes unpredictable.

"It's a fear that every parent has," Goodrich said. "Once in a while he will get frustrated. That's the moment you say, ÔGod I hope the police don't get involved.' You have to talk him down. He'll get it out."

It's about understanding and trying to figure out what's wrong.

"Communications skills, that's the key," she said. "All you can do is guess and know out of knowing from having spent time with him."

Danger debate

Woodruff said it is wrong to suggest autistic people are a danger to others.

"It's an inappropriate leap to go from violent behavior to autism," he said.

All segments of the population have people prone to violence.

And if anything, autism is defined more by its differences than its similarities.

"When you've met a student with autism, you've met one student with autism," said Stacy Olson, an autism specialist with South Coast ESD. "Because they are all so very different."

Most students who exhibit autistic characteristics can function in a traditional classroom, said Woodruff. Those with more severe cases go to the life skills program. There they are taught how to live as independently as possible. They also train on how to behave in social situations.

After high school, some enroll in adult transition programs. Cozad had been enrolled in one, though he had not attended since February.

Beyond ESD, people with autism and their families can seek help through organizations like the nonprofit Community Living Case Management.

Getting support

Program Manager Sue Gordon said they care for people with a variety of developmental disabilities including Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism. Each case is different, depending upon the family's involvement and patient's needs.

"It can be offering respite in the home, to purchasing one-shot things, to group home placements," she said.

The service is supported with state and federal funding. No one is turned away, she said.

That doesn't always mean people receive what they need. The programs are voluntary unless mandated by a court. And then sometimes the heavy demand for services limits access to care.

State Rep. Chris Edwards, D-West Eugene, headed a project to look at the state's autism services and he found disparity around the state.

"Because the case loads are so high for autism specialists, cases are kind of handled on a triage basis," he said.

Edwards has proposed a plan to get universities to train more autism specialists and get them in the right place to teach educators and police how to deal with autism cases. He isn't sure what success his legislation would have, however, given the state of the economy.

More often than not, people who need help can't get it because of a lack of funds, Goodrich said.

"You have to wait until police are involved," she said.