Alan Baker, 20, runs more than five miles a day on his home treadmill. The autistic man from Thousand Oaks stays inside and avoids crowds because he feels it’s easier for him to function. But on June 3, Baker left his comfort zone to participate in the 2012 Love Run for Senior Concerns in Westlake Village. “Despite the fact that I’m autistic, I did it because I like to run and it was for a good cause—Meals on Wheels,” said Baker, who finished fifth in his division, completing the 5K in 23 minutes, 31 seconds. “This was a huge accomplishment for Alan,” said Jerry Bennett, who runs a behavior modification fitness program in Thousand Oaks and has been coaching Baker for more than six years. Bennett, a former Marine, uses psychology, physiology, occupational and physical therapy to develop physical fitness and mental well-being in special needs children. “For me, as somebody who works with these children, I know what Alan had to overcome to do what he did and do something to help other people,” Bennett said. Although he’s reluctant to do anything outside of his comfort zone, Baker decided to change his routine and participate in a crowded outdoor activity because he wanted to help seniors who are no longer able to shop or cook for themselves. “For an autistic young man to grasp that concept is just phenomenal,” Bennett said. The son of Don and Mary Baker, Alan is the youngest of four children. “He’s very smart and logical, but emotional things don’t make sense to Alan,” his father said. Alan Baker was almost 6 when he was diagnosed with autism. He is good with numbers but not very good with interpersonal skills, his mother said. “Alan was never interested in what the kids next door were doing,” Mary Baker said. Like many people who have been diagnosed with autism, Alan Baker doesn’t have well developed life or social skills, his mother said. It is difficult for him to engage in verbal and nonverbal communication. He has a reduced ability to read body language, so he may not pick up on a person’s feelings through their words and actions. But that doesn’t mean he’s not sympathetic. Chris Munch, a coach who accompanied Baker in the race, said the young man rationalized the pros and cons of running the 5K and consciously chose to step out of his routine to participate in the event for the well-being of others. “He may have felt pressured, but at the end of the day . . . the decision to do it was his,” Munch said. People often ostracize autistic children, assuming they’re incapable of interacting or understanding simple communication because they don’t respond as expected. “But the reality is they need a different approach, clearer direction, and they’re more than capable of doing 99 percent of the functions that average people do,” said Munch, who is working toward a master’s degree in mental health at USC. Standing in the middle of the pack before the race on June 3, Baker suddenly began to sing the classic rock tune “Born to Be Wild.” “I allowed him to go ahead and sing because it seemed like he was getting pumped up,” Munch said. “He sang at the top of his lungs,” and many other runners sang along. “ Then before you know, the kid took off in a full on sprint. He ran the race at a 10.5- mile an hour pace. I actually had to get him to slow down,” said Munch. The coach added that he explained some running etiquette to Baker during the race so he could acclimate to the new environment. In addition to running, Baker bowls, ice skates, rollerblades, plays drums and enjoys movie trivia, politics and classic rock. He is taking online math courses through Moorpark College. “He has a great memory. He can tell you any movies released on your birth date,” said Bennett, who plans to hire Baker as an assistant coach this summer so he can mentor younger children with disabilities and earn his own money. Mary Baker said she and her husband strive to help their son become independent, adding that he would make a good accountant because he is good with numbers and prefers to work alone. More …
