The following story was provided by Children's Center, a United Way partner. Your United Way donations support this program.

A four-year-old diagnosed with autism was really struggling at home. He was leaving the house alone, throwing things out of the windows, and being extremely aggressive towards his family. His parents were at a loss and sought help at the Children’s Center. He began participating in the behavioral support program, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and targeted case management.

On his first day in the classroom, he screamed, refused to sit down, emptied every bin of toys, and threw things across the classroom. He could not sit still or focus on anything in particular, having very little impulse control and showing aggression towards anyone who got in his way. He had no interest in peers or the ability to interact with staff. His communication was sparse and the few words he tried to say were difficult to understand or did not make sense at all.

Fast forward a year-and-a-half, he is a completely different child. When he becomes upset or dysregulated, he has learned to take a deep breath, while his teachers give him the space he needs to calm down. He will even tell his teachers, “I’m ready please,” when he has regained his composure. He can reflect on his behavior and talk about what he should have done, such as using his words instead of hitting. He can have a full conversation now, greeting peers and staff when they enter a room and sharing stories with anyone and everyone, just to get a laugh. He even has pet names for different people in his classroom.

His parents have noticed a big difference at home too. He shows less aggression, follows directions, and plays better with his siblings. They no longer have to worry so much about his safety and the safety of the family and can enjoy spending time with him and seeing how much he has grown over the past couples years. He still has a ways to go before kindergarten, but he will be ready when the time comes thanks to the specialized programming and the donors that support those services at the Children’s Center.