It is hard for me to believe that 2015 is over and we are now embarking on a new year. As I reflect back on 2015, I think about the significant progress Samuel has made. One year ago, Samuel was saying very few words outside of "no" and "uh oh". Although he is still not able to have a conversation of any sort, he has learned to say a significant amount of words. Recently, he has started speaking in sentences a little. I have counted him saying up to seven words at a time, which is a gigantic improvement. Often times these words are repeated over and over by him. I think this is all part of the repetition that comes with autism.
One year ago, we did not know Samuel was autistic. We were still hopeful that he was simply slow developing and that it would come with time. His three-year checkup began the process that changed out mindset. I can understand how some parents would be in denial about autism. We were constantly told that all kids developed differently and that we should not be overly concerned about delays. There is also a stigma that some have towards children being labeled. April and I may have briefly thought like this, but it did not last long. Once we came to grips with the reality of the situation, we realized that anything we could do to help our child must be done. I believe that God has given parents an awesome responsibility to care and nurture our children. That involves providing them with a support system to help them succeed. If that involves having a label attached to my child, so be it. I want whatever services are available to help him succeed.
As we begin 2016 I am incredibly optimistic about what the future holds for Samuel. I am very excited about him building on the significant progress that he has made in the last six months. At the same time, I recognize that he is getting older and many symptoms of autism are becoming more embedded. Perhaps most concerning right now is the fear that we notice on his face when he is in uncomfortable situations. This can include being in large group settings or having anything occur that he was not expecting. We have learned to tell him up front where he is going or make him aware of things we are going to do, in an attempt to prepare him for what's coming. Most of the time this tactic is helpful. However, when it does not work the situation can be overwhelming for Samuel and those around him. We are hopeful that Pre-K will continue to expose him to new horizons, while challenging him to overcome some of his struggles. Also, we are currently working on getting him some ABA Therapy which has proven to be extremely beneficial to many autistic children. I look forward to writing about his progress throughout 2016!
Once again, thank you for taking time out of your day to read this blog. I wish you and your family a wonderful and prosperous 2016!
No comments:
Post a Comment