SALEM - Touched by a student with autism for the first time, Crestview teacher Sue Weber said she was uncertain about what to do to help this student.

In her effort to learn more about this condition, which she said most numbers show affects one in every 150, she began compiling materials, books and other resources. Now, Weber, with the help of the mother of one of her students, has created a library in her room to help others in the community and the school understand how to help children with autism.

Weber, a kindergarten teacher, presented the idea of her library at the Crestview Board of Education meeting Wednesday. With the help of a group of affected children, they tried to help explain some of what autistic children face.

Weber said when the first autistic child walked into her classroom, she did not even know what autism was.

"We began a journey that was difficult," Weber said.

Finally, there was a breakthrough. She had brought the Charlie Brown characters into her classroom, which most students did not even recognize. But Zach, who rarely spoke, not only knew the characters, he climbed up on Weber's lap and began play acting with them.

"I had finally found the connection between Zachary and myself," Weber explained. "(Zach) changed my life."

She explained that she was not sure dealing with an autistic student was something she could ever love doing, but had found it touched her. Then with the next autistic student she learned that each one is totally different. Matthew, she said, was more responsive, and she had the assistance of his mother communicating openly about what worked for them at home.

Utilizing the knowledge they have gained in the past year, Weber said it was time to create the autism library as a way to help others. In order not to crowd out the other library books at school, the library will be housed in a bookcase and filing cabinet inside the door of her classroom.

Weber said she plans to create a system where people can come and sign materials out. There are also informational materials people can keep.

"We know this project is big," Weber said. "We plan to carry it out until it's a success. We definitely are on track to keep the community informed."

She believes the information would be useful for teachers to help the students, including classroom materials, videos and books. It will be available to other staff at the school and even parents who are trying to learn about the condition their child has been diagnosed with.

"We've gotten just a great response," Weber said, adding one parent told her "'I wish I had this information when my child was first diagnosed.'"

With such a broad spectrum of problems included in a diagnosis of autism, Weber said recent numbers show that while one in every 150 is diagnosed with autism, one in every 91 is being diagnosed with autism or something in the spectrum. The children have different symptoms and treatments.

To continue the library, Weber said they will accept donations and have a list of materials they feel would be useful ready for anyone interested in helping. She also plans to apply for a grants, including one available through Doug Flutie, a former NFL quarterback, who has a child with autism.

djohnson@mojonews.com