Journalists are taught in school to write stories in an "upside down funnel" pattern. Conventional style says to begin the focus on one specific person or topic and broaden the story as it progresses.

Former River Falls High School student Tessa Davis is studying rehabilitation psychology at UW-Madison. Her internship the past two summers working with autistic students has taught her to change the environment to fit the needs of the individual rather than the adverse. This process, Davis has found, maximizes communication and learning. 

This local news story about students with autism moving into the workforce is going to start on a national level, inversely, and funnel down back to Pierce County. A right-side up funnel, so to speak. In the academic world, using her natural gift of patience, Davis can augment the environment. Having autism or a disability in the working world is a different story, indeed.     

Matt Olson is a first-baseman for the Atlanta Braves. He's had a friend since childhood named Reece Blankenship, who has autism and is non-verbal. He hadn't been able to communicate with anyone for the first 19 years of his life. Blankenship bites his fingers and will grunt or make loud incoherent noises uncontrollably. He can't help it. That's what the condition commands of his body. Davis is asking the Pierce County Journal readers to search both names (Olson and Blankenship) together on YouTube and watch it. It's a 9 minute and 16-second video about Reece's story. 

"I cry every time I see that story," said Davis.

During Blankenship's story, his mom said the conversation seemed to always be what he could not do. For Blankenship and about 3% of the population in the U.S. (1 in 36 students), this is a steadfast rule of society. The individual must conform to the environment or the individual is thrown overboard when it's time to set sail on life.

Blankenship, through education, found a way to point to colored letters to spell words and sentences to communicate, something he had never done his entire life. He immediately started “talking” about space and telescopes. Information had been traveling into Blankenship's brain for 19 years, but it didn't know how to find its way back out. Blankenship, with the help of his multi-millionaire pro baseball friend, Matt Olson, started a foundation and education center for those with autism.

"Our friendship transcends typical speech," Blankenship spelled out about his homerun hitting friend in the video. "It's important because it gives me faith that my true self is valued in spite of my unruly body." 

Autism numbers have increased dramatically from 1 in 5,000 in 1970 to 1 in 36 today. There has been recent debate on the reasons for the increases, but according to autismspeaks.org and a host of other sources, awareness and proper diagnosis seem to be the number one determining factor. Autism numbers are extremely similar when compared to race, however, not gender. Boys are four times more likely to be autistic than girls. The National Center for Health Research (NCHR) also says studies show girls may be better at adapting or "camouflaging" the symptoms. The NCHR states the age of the father during conception can be factor, as can taking certain antidepressants during pregnancy. Genetics seemed to be the most prevailing factor among numerous information outlets.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is considered to be the leading known genetic cause of autism.

"It's something I know and it's always been close to me," said Davis.

Tessa Davis' uncle, Todd, lives in Philadelphia and has Fragile X. She also has a cousin with autism. The city of brotherly love is where her dad, Craig, grew up. Davis shares at least two things with her dad, his love of the Philadelphia Eagles and his patience. While the words "patience" and "Eagles' fans" may not typically be said with tremendous frequency, it is a valuable learned trait living with autistic family members.

"When Uncle Todd wants to say something," said Davis, "we just know to let him say what he needs to say no matter what."

Davis is fascinated with how the human brain works. She is also an extremely empathetic person. This combination has led to her study in rehabilitation psychology at UW-Madison and her internship at "Els for Autism" in Jupiter, Fla.

Ernie Els is a professional golfer and has been for over three decades. Known as "The Big Easy" with his smooth swing and large frame, Els is one of only six golfers all-time to win the U.S. Open and the British Open twice. Els and his wife, Liezl, have an autistic son named Ben.

Els for Autism is a school and research facility for children and young adults with autism. This is where Davis spent her last two summers.  

"I'd walk into work, and I had no idea what was going to happen each day and that's why I loved it so much," said Davis. "It can be uncomfortable to walk into a situation and not know a kid's needs, but the willingness to get to the bottom of the issue, that's what matters. Being OK with being uncomfortable was something important for me to learn."

Two areas of education at "Els for Autism" focus on assessment for the young children and learning for the K-12 students.

"Patience is key and every person working there has it," said Davis. "My job became a lot easier when I learned to take an extra second and figure out what this kid needs and try new things. It's a process of trial and error.”

The third focus is on job training for young adults.

"There are not that many opportunities and training for adults with autism," said Davis, "but the River Falls school district has an amazing special education program that also has training for adults."

Tasha Herum, like Tessa Davis, graduated from River Falls High School. Herum, also like Davis, has family with disabilities. Herum is in her 10th year with the River Falls School District; seven of those have been as the Director of River Falls Project Search.

"We're a hybrid program in River Falls," said Herum. "We have individuals that need a lot of support and individuals that are more there for growing soft skills, confidence, and job exploration."

Nationwide, according to autismspeaks.org, 20% of people with disabilities are employed. Of those with autism, the employment rate increases to 60% if they receive vocational rehabilitation services. 

River Falls Project Search is a partnership between the school district, the state's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Allina Hospital in River Falls.

Ryley Scott was terminated from his bus boy job at a local restaurant during his junior year at River Falls High School. He finished his senior year last May and signed up for Project Search. He'll earn his diploma this May. Scott is currently working on his soft skills and time management training in the Allina Hospital cafeteria.

"Ryley said he would like to get a job at Ace Hardware or a grocery store," said Herum.

"Our Project Search students are constantly breaking down barriers that people put up for them. The best part of my job is seeing the pride on our students' faces when they master something new."

Herum was involved in C.A.T.S. (Connecting All Together Socially) when she was a River Falls' High School student over 15 years ago.

"It's just a fun way for kids with disabilities to do recreational things with kids with non-disabilities," said Herum.

River Falls High School still has C.A.T.S. but "Connections" is a newer course unique to River Falls.

"I've taught in three different districts and I've never seen anything else like it," said RFSD Special Education Director Mark Inouye about the "Connections" class. "It's a mixed class. It gets students with disabilities in class with their peers."

Students will give mini-lessons on a number of different topics to their disabled peers, including lessons such as how to camp or how to cook. The entire class also prepares a meal for the local fire department each week, including shopping for the food and preparing it together as a class.

The "Connections" is two-fold according to Inouye.

"You can usually count on one hand the number of applicants we have for our special education positions," said Inouye. "We have to recruit, so developing future special education teachers is great, but it goes beyond, even for the people that don't go into it as a profession. Developing empathy and understanding around working with students with disabilities is an exciting component."

Some may describe the River Falls High School "Connections" class as a "right-side up funnel-style" of education, much like this story structure on autism.