AN AUTISTIC York schoolgirl is slowly emerging from her own private world, only months after members of her family flew to America to learn a pioneering treatment.

Rachael Hamilton, nine, can now recognise people around her and participate in conversations, nine months after starting the Son-Rise programme at her home in Huntington, York.

The amazing progress of the Lidgett Grove School pupil, which became apparent after only a month, has led her mother, Rebecca Scotter, to proclaim: "I'm slowly getting my daughter back."

Now Rebecca wants to step up her daughter's treatment, firstly by raising £7,000 to send Rachael to America for one-to-one treatment, and secondly by recruiting a team of volunteers to work with her at their home.

She said she was confident that if more time was dedicated to using the Son-Rise programme, Rachael would soon be going to a mainstream school.

Rebecca said: "We are now seeing a new child coming through, she's actually coming back.

"When we talk to her now we are getting a lot more eye contact. She looks at you and not through you, and her teachers at school are saying she's doing really well.

"Normally Rachael would scribble, but she's actually drawn a house properly, with windows and a door. It's like she's catching up - she's coming back."

The Son-Rise programme - a learning system devised by the parents of a severely autistic boy in America - involves joining in with an autistic child's play rather than correcting their behaviour, and building up a relationship with the child.

Rachael was diagnosed as autistic at the age of four, but her family noticed that her behaviour had drastically altered within 48 hours of her receiving the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) jab at the age of 15 months.

The family has just filed a writ in the High Court against Merck and Co Inc, the vaccine manufacturers, for damages exceeding £50,000.

However, the Department of Health maintains there is no link between MMR and autism or bowel disease and says it is the safest way to protect children.

Rebecca, her partner, Robert Nutbrown, and sister, Nicky Scotter, travelled to Massachusetts last September to learn the technique, but are unable to devote as much time as necessary to working with Rachael.

Rebecca said that with the help of volunteers, Rachael's treatment could take place full-time and her progress would be greatly improved.

If anyone wants to donate money or volunteer to help they can send cheques made payable to the Rachael Louise Son-Rise Project, to Margaret Scotter, 3 Compton Street, Clifton, York, YO30 6LE or telephone 01904 672886.

Updated: 11:59 Tuesday, May 27, 2003