Stories of Hope

Reaching a milestone to Mainsream!

When Thomas turned 2 it felt like a bomb was dropped when we heard he had ASD. We didn't know what to do to help him. When he turned 3 the Early On program enrolled him into the Early Childhood Special Education program in our district. For 3 years his conferences and IEP meetings turned out the same, he wasn't progressing at all. Each meeting I would leave crying wondering what on earth I could do to help him move forward. Last fall it was requested he see a Psychiatrist for medication to slow him down so he could sit still in hopes that could help. Again it felt like another bomb was dropped, he was diagnosed with Mild Mental Retardation as well as ASD. We were told he could not mainstream and would need a special school next fall. I started slipping furthur into depression wondering why this wonderful blessing was being forced to go through this.

Today we had our last conference with his teachers. I feared the worst because of the other meetings. I was again expecting to hear that he was still not progressing and would have to be in a special school as his mentallity and development level is that of a 2.5 year old. Instead we got the best news! Next year he gets to move ahead to Kindergarten! He gets to be mainstreamed! The medication he was put on has helped him absorb and remember what hes been taught. He can write his own name and knows most of his ABC's! He can count to 10 now! I never thought he was going to progress so much so quickly. Its truly a blessing! I am so proud of my lil guy! He may be 5 but hes a wonderful blessing blossoming!

Gina Wunder
Albion, MI

my autism story

My name is Daniel yoshino I have had autism since I was a month year old I have had trouble in school understanding what I read and have had trouble communicaing with people I mean I can communicate with people its just that some people do not understand my disabilitie my name is Daniel yoshino and this is my story

daniel joshua yoshino
discovery bay, CA

Little Man Big Achievements

At just 9 mo we saw differances from other babies. He started services at 19 mo and diagnosed @ age 3 with moderate Autism. He had no language, not potty trainable, his only interrest was cartoons. After many hours of DTT and ABA theropy he has gone from Severely Handicapped classes to regular Ed Kindergarden. At 6 ys old received an Academic Achievement Award. He talks your ear off and uses the restroom. His Autism is unrecognisable to the untrained eye, in the past people asked us all the time if he was MR when we were in the public... What a miracal ealy intervention has done for our little guy...I would encourage you to never give up and even when the crocodial tears or tantrums are given keep it up because this will help bring them out of the shell and into our wold where they will be more functional. The first time he said mom-mom spontainiously was a heart waming moment... We started with sign language then moved to pics and one day he echoed a word spoken by a theropist, we knew then he would speak. It was a long journey with 40 or more hours a day spent on teaching with the help of in home ABA, pre school and my hours spent reinforcing all he was being taught... I am sure the journey has just begun but the battle is won through this part and the remainder is to be seen.

Robin
Antelope Valley, CA

my son

Anthony my oldest son that I am VERRY proud of and couldn't ask for a better child!He is a honor student and a well rounded teenager! He is perfect the way he is.

Kristine
Hammond, IN

Miracles happen every day

Almost three years ago, our beautiful little miracle was born, seven weeks early. I was right in the middle of my 32nd week of pregnancy, reading books about how I had just about 8 weeks left, and that my baby boy still had lots of growing to do. Instead, I walked in to the doctor's office and was told to immediately head for the hospital, "that you may be delivering this baby." Everything I read about my baby's growth and development, future doctor's appointments/pregnancy weeks I wrote on the calendar, were all abruptly and immediately stopped. Two days later, our beautiful baby boy was born, the day before Easter. I'll never forget looking into his beautiful blue eyes right after the emergency C-section. I turned to my right, looked into his beautiful blue eyes, and whispered, "I love you, darling." His sparkling not-yet-newborn eyes seemed to tell me he loved me too, even though he couldn't speak it to me. He was whisked to the NICU where he stayed for five weeks. He grew up into a beautiful and healthy almost-three-year old boy, who was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in January. Everything we read about our boy's development, this time outside of the womb, was now completely changed. But I wouldn't change who my son is for anything in the world. He loves music more than anything, and we sing together before bed every night. While rocking him to sleep, I look to my right and I whisper, "I love you, darling. He isn't able to say right back, "I love you, Mommy"...yet...but just like the day he was born, every day, his sparkling brown eyes tell me he loves me too. With that unspoken mother-son bond...my little miracle shows me with his beautiful heart.

Anonymous
Brea, CA

My amazing boys and their journey.

I am a mother of 2 children with autism. My oldest Kevin was diagnosed with autism when he was almost 4. As a baby he had very minimal speech, walked and crawled late. We began early intervention at age 4 when we noticed that his lack of speech became worse. I remember it was Valentine's Day and I said goodbye to him and he said "I love you" everyone including myself shed a tear. These amazing teachers more like angels gave me and my husband new hope. Now he is age 5 and he is talking more using sentences and telling me how he feels or what he likes and does not. He loves to build amazing train tracks, play outside in the dirt, loves playing with cars and tractors.
My son Elijah is 3 about to be 4. He was diagnosed with severe autism at the age of 2 1/2. We had noticed that he did a lot of hand flapping, jumping, yelling, covering his ears in uncomfortable situations. We noticed when we went to the orientation for my oldest son that there was a boy who did the same actions as my son Elijah. We put him through early intervention as well. He is slowly progressing he's starting to talk a little bit more. The way he looks at the world and little things is amazing. He loves to draw, make animal noises, he loves to laugh.
My boys mean the world to me. Yes sometimes it is challenging with the tantrums and having hard times in public when they are uncomfortable. They uplift me with their innocence for life. Seeing them smile makes me feel good each day or even a hug or kiss. Makes everything all worth it. Don't give up hope when it seems tough.

Anna
Victorville, CA

Ezie's Story

I always worried if Ezie would make friends. Ezie does not prefer solitude despite his inability to expressively communicate at times or engage in what most know as "play". We tried sports and although parents started out supportive, I could feel the tension that they got "stuck with that kid" on the team. After quietly bowing out of tball & soccer we signed him up for Cub Scouts with hope he would find a sense of friendship and belonging.

Ezie has made friends in his 'Den' who look out for him and he takes on social situations that are not predictable like camping! He even climbed a rock wall at camp! Although every activity has certain challenges we find a way for him to be successful by using visual schedules, flash cards and his leaders allow him to express himself through writing rather than through speech to earn his recognitions.

Not once have we felt the "stuck with that kid" tension, I have met some great kids and amazing parents. Through the patience, understanding and leadership of our leaders Dave & Mike and supportive parents I know Ezie will continue to thrive in this program and I recommend it to all on the spectrum and not!

As for finding a sense of friendship and belonging, we found it.

Renee
Torrance, CA

A Present of Autism

When I found out Ryan was diagnosed Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) known as Autism, my world crumbled around me. At that time, I wanted to look for ways to prove the specialist was wrong because she had no knowledge of Children of Deaf Adults. I did look for articles and indeed did find an article about Hearing Children of Deaf Parents with Language Delay.

Also, I remember feeling my world crumbled around me as I wanted to blame others for causing Ryan being autism while I was pregnant quietly. Instead of blaming others, I automatically shut the world out for weeks including my family. I remember how angry I was when I heard someone was telling me,"I'm sorry to see that Ryan will live with you for the rest of your life." But for anyone who had to someone bluntly missed beautiful, daily moments.

I remember how much I wanted to overcome Ryan's obstacles. At first, he could not speak at all. He had lots of tantrums; throwing things up in the air and dashing off a lot of times. But this had changed. Little by little, I worked with him daily by age 3. He gradually started talking and act cooperating nicely. Ryan now interacts with other kids. As a deaf mom, I am not the kind of a person who would surrender despite of his disability. I am his example.

But the matter is that my world changed for better.

I didn't know he would smile, laugh, and hug would make my heart sing.

I didn't know he would amaze me with his far out creative imaginations or exceed far ahead of my expectations.

Yet, I had the experience to walk through the pain to find joy. The joy far outweighs the pain.

Laura McClellan
Chula Vista, CA

Amazing kids!

When I go to work everyday I see unconditional love. The little looks and smiles that fill my heart and I feel so honored and blessed to be doing what I am doing. I knew from the first day I observed a preschool class at a private school for autism 16 years ago, that this was not just going to be a job for me but a life changing experience. I continue to learn and grow every day from my students. I thank God for bringing these amazing little faces that are full of love and hold so much possibility to learn. They are so much more aware than the average eye can see and when you find the child behind the eye gazing, it is an indescribable feeling! I only wish more people got the chance to break through the walls of a child.

Denise Reed
newton, NJ

My autism and me.

I am just a normal girl. Except I have Aspergers syndrome but Im still normal. I got diagnosed about 2 years ago, a year after my big sister. We are to completely different people but have the same diagnosis. For my sister it was life ruining but for me it was just another day. We were all so busy, School, looking after my dad, My mums new buisness/hobby and my older sister moving here and having to live with us while she found a house. To be honest I liked the Idea of being special. It made me feel important but soon enough things took a turn for the worst. Kids in my class were getting treated differently. Now because of me but because they would act out in class so the teachers , instead of putting up a fight, they just let them do what they like.So the next year I did the same. It was easy, I did what I wanted but at the time i understood why it was hard for them to stop, because when you do it its so nice but its so hard to think of how selfish it is! I love my aspergersso much and I wouldn't beme with out it!

Leah
East Sussex, United Kingdom