Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love

Raun was born "like all, perfect" to Bears and Suzi Kaufman.<ref name=OConnor/> Eventually, his parents noticed that Raun could only see certain things and sometimes hear. He also lost a couple of words that he had been taught.<ref name=rising>http://living.scotsman.com/features/Rising-to-the-light.2359793.jp</ref> He had 12 out of 13 symptoms of autism. Medical professionals were pessimistic about Raun's condition.<ref name=OConnor/> The only options offered to the Kaufmans at the time was either institutionalization or involvement in a behavior modification-style program that included aversive therapy. Spanking and electrical shock treatment are two examples for this program. His parents also witnessed young children being locked into cabinets by clinicians; other children had their hands tied to the back of chairs for hand-flapping, a Stimming behavior common to autism.