TEMECULA -- A new autism resource center in Temecula, the first of its kind in Southwest County, was designed for moms such as Rachel Borsack.

The Murrieta mother of two doesn't know whether her 12-year-old son has autism. She's in that weird state of parental limbo, wondering what the tests will say and worrying about what she should do for him.

That's where the New Vision Autism Center, which opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday, comes in.

"It's the best thing to happen here," said Borsack, standing near the center's front desk during a visit Wednesday.

At the center, Borsack can talk to people such as Mary Mollway and Helen Robinson, founders of New Vision Children's Services, the nonprofit organization that manages the center.

The center will offer support groups linking parents with others who can help them through their experience. They also can attend parenting classes designed to assist them in navigating through the sometimes confusing world of Individual Education Plans, which are personalized school curricula designed for special-needs students.

The nonprofit organization has been providing these services for years, but the opening means all of the services can be offered under one roof, a 2,500-square-foot center in commercial space on Remington Avenue, northwest of the intersection of Winchester and Diaz roads.

Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorders, which can include impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive or severely limited activities and interests, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other disorders, according to the NIH's Web site, include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified.

Experts estimate that 3 to 6 children out of every 1,000 will have autism. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

Mollway, a longtime English teacher who serves as executive director of the center, said roughly 2,000 children in Southwest County are affected by some form of autism.

During a tour of the new center Wednesday, Mollway described how she expects the center to evolve and detailed the services it is offering now.

As they enter, visitors will notice bookshelves stocked with different kinds of vitamins and supplements. Some parents of autistic children have found that the products, or doctor-prescribed combinations of the products, can help improve their children's focus and behavior.

"The products are discounted by up to 60 percent to get them into the hands of families," Mollway said.

In August, Mollway said, the center plans to host a conference that will feature a speech by Temecula doctor Kurt Woeller, who has been using the products to help children with autism, an approach called biomedical treatment.

In one of the rooms near the front door, Mollway pointed to five computer stations that will be used by children working with special software.

The software, which includes speech recognition and read-aloud programs, is designed to help children with autism absorb information.

For instance, Mollway explained, some children have a hard time getting their thoughts into words on a piece of paper, but they can verbalize those thoughts. That's where the speech recognition software will help. Other children who have a hard time reading will benefit from the read-aloud software, which converts scanned pages of a textbook into audio files.

Other rooms have been set aside for parent consultations and classes. There is also a lending library where parents can find books on autism and other types of developmental disorders.

To help children who have problems focusing and sitting still during a normal classroom session, Mollway said she employs a technique called "brain gym."

After about 20 minutes of instruction, Mollway will take a break and give the children the opportunity for physical movement. As this process is repeated, Mollway said, the behavioral issues begin to fade.

In coming months, she said, New Vision hopes to add on-site experts to help diagnose children. Those experts will include a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist.

Right now, the closest place that offers the services of a diagnostic team is in San Diego, Mollway said.

In the back of the center, there is a loading bay that features a high ceiling. Mollway said she plans to take advantage of that height by installing a trampoline, a rock climbing wall and other types of therapy equipment.

Call staff writer Aaron Claverie at 951-676-4315, ext. 2624.

NEW VISION AUTISM CENTER

- When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; Saturdays by appointment.

- Where: 42075 Remington Ave., Suite 109, Temecula

- What: Resource center for parents of children with autism

- Info: 951-553-7676