Monday, November 21, 2011

Day 2: Things I'm Thankful For - Autism Style

Currently, I am listing the Things I'm Thankful For - Autism Style. On the 2nd day of Thanksgiving Week, I am thankful for Ethan's Early Intervention. This includes Child and Family Connections, Easter Seals, and Preschool Family Educational Center.

We started this journey with Ethan in October 2010.....when he was 2 years old. Although we didn't have a diagnosis yet, we knew that Ethan was showing signs of developmental delay. Through the suggestion of a friend, we contacted the Child & Family Connections agency, and began our journey. He joined a 2 day, 2 hour a week developmental playgroup where he blossomed. He also started speech therapy and, later, occupational therapy. We also put his name on the waiting list to be tested for autism at Easter Seals. During our short time with this early intervention agency, Ethan grew leaps & bounds........and I will never forget those people & what they did for our Ethan. I truly am eternally grateful.

In May of 2011, just one month shy of 3 years old, Ethan received his official diagnosis of "classic autism." We then became an Easter Seals family. The resources that have been made available to us are astounding. There is a "resource" room that acts similar to a library. Instead of buying expensive therapy toys & aids that may or may not work with Ethan, we can check them out from the resource room. It really is an amazing resource for families learning to live with autism. They also provide therapy, training, and support to the entire family....not just the person with autism. They are a wonderful organization, and we have learned so much from them. In the future, we plan on Ethan participating in their swim classes, summer ASD preschool program, and possibly help us with toilet training. We are so blessed to have these resources available to Ethan.

In June of 2011, Ethan "aged out".....meaning he was too old for the Child and Family Connections program.....so we were then handed over to the public school system. Currently, Ethan is enrolled in a two hour, everyday preschool program where he also receives occupational therapy & speech therapy. He is a part of a typical classroom which includes a teacher and a teacher's aid. Ethan LOVES school. Although Ethan is very advanced in the academic world, he is still very delayed in several areas.....mainly his social skills. Last week we sat down with Ethan's teachers & his speech therapist, and we reviewed his progress & goals. One of his goals is to "initiate conversation with others." While this is a great goal for us to have for Ethan to have, I made comment that this goal will probably still be on his IEP in high school. Social skills will be a life-long mystery for Ethan.....but we will constantly be there to help him learn. And, not to brag on my child, but his teacher's told us that....on the skills they tested him on (colors, shapes, numbers, etc.)....he not only meets the end of the year goals for the 3 year olds.......he meets the end of the year goals for the 4 year olds! What a smart kid we have!!!!! So, we are already beginning to see his strengths & his weaknesses.

I just think about the past year of our journey with Ethan's Early Intervention Program, and I am in awe. If Ethan hadn't been a part of these amazing programs, where would he be today?! More frustrated, more silent, more withdrawn......I just can't even begin to imagine. The progress he has made in only a year is astounding. I honestly am eternally grateful for all of the people that have come into Ethan & our lives in order to help us learn to live with autism. It's been an awesome journey.

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