AUTISM ADVOCACY
With the help we received, from the early diagnosis through to
today, we had ‘hope’ that he could have a full and satisfying life.
Today we can happily say that our son has touched the lives of so
many, and he has the hope of a bright future.
T
i s for Tools - What tools are there now that
were not there in the beginning that could
help other parents?
The tool that we used, in the beginning, was to con-
tact our local school district and Regional Center of
Orange County to determine the available treatment
options and resources. They directed us to their Inter-
vention Center for Early Childhood, and they helped
us map out our treatment plan. In addition to weekly
speech therapy, we also implemented an applied be-
havioral analysis program administered through the
Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention. Our trained
treatment team was truly amazing and worked with
our son from the time he was three years old until
eight years old. If we fast forward to his young adult
life today, the colleges he has attended (Landmark
College in Putney, VT, and Beacon College in Lees-
burg, FL—both schools are focused on providing a
college education to students that learn differently)
have used advanced computer learning enhance-
ments like Kurzweil 3000, Inspiration, and Dragon
Naturally Speaking. These technologies have helped
our son organize his thoughts, increase reading com-
prehension, and even work through social anxieties.
I
i s for Inspire - As a parent, when you look
at your child or children, what inspires you?
[My son’s] optimism, his quest for knowledge, how
he treats others, and his contentment. He is truly
fun to be around and a very positive person. He also
really goes out of his way to make others feel good
and laugh. He has an amazing sense of humor. In
his spare time, he is always reading and researching
topics that interest him. And while he really enjoys
group events and activities, he is equally content to
be on his own reading or watching a movie.
S is for Support - Are there things you strug-
gle with or have struggled with, and what
types of support do you still need?
Our most significant struggle or concern today is for
his future. When he graduates from college in De-
cember of this year, he will be looking to start a ca-
reer in wildlife care, training, and conservation. The
next step may be an internship or a paid job in the
field. That said, the interview process can be chal-
lenging for people on the spectrum. He is getting
career counseling at college that also includes inter-
view skills. We are hopeful that potential employers
will value his unique gifts and passions and that will
lead to a career (not just a job) in his chosen field.
M is for Manage - What keys to success can
you leave with parents so that they can bet-
ter manage their day-to-day efforts?
My wife and I have embraced this journey as a part-
nership. We have attended almost every doctor ap-
pointment, school Individualized Education Pro-
gram (IEP) meeting, treatment training, and college
evaluation together. Having each other to lean on
has made all the difference. We also did not accept
the notion that our son’s condition “is what it is” and
that we should just set the bar low. With each accom-
plishment and milestone, we kept gently pushing to
get to the next level. We proceeded with the deter-
mination that he could do something until it was
proven that he could not. With the help we received,
from the early diagnosis through to today, we had
“hope” that he could have a full and satisfying life.
Today we can happily say that our son has touched
the lives of so many, and he has the hope of a bright
future.
Derrick Hayes is an author, motivational speak-
er, and paraprofessional in the Muscogee County
School District in Columbus, Georgia.
Website: www.derrickhayes.com
Email: [email protected]
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 87 |
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