When we first came to the Center for Growth and Development 7 years ago we weren’t sure what would become of our recently diagnosed son. The therapists at the Center worked hard with him adding hours as needed. They took this non-verbal child with no social skills or any eye contact and turned him into a verbal, well functioning member of society. He has always been mainstreamed and most people say he is the sweetest boy they ever met.
It was not easy. There were tears, tantrums and sometimes there were delays in his progress which made life difficult for me as a parent. Through it all, the Center became more than just a place that worked with my son who lives with Autism.
They counseled us as a family, taught us how to help him as well as our other two children. Our boys are in a social group that has gotten them to socialize and appreciate each other in ways I never thought possible.
Our second son, although typically developing was acting out at school and the Center assisted him with figuring out how to handle his frustrations which included expressing himself appropriately as well as talking about what he expected from his relationship with his brother. Our youngest, a girl, has taken advantage of the preschool/nursery which also has a very talented staff of teachers as well as therapists.
I can’t begin to say how blessed my entire family has been by the very talented people over at the Center. The owner Lynn has personally helped each one of my children. She was there when I cried because it finally hit me that my son was going to live with Autism. Lynn went without hesitation to my second son’s school when I said he was having trouble and worked with the school staff to put a plan in place that led to his success. Our daughter was delayed in speech and she was the first person I contacted. She came right over to my house to assess the situation and assured me all was well. Once your family becomes part of the Center’s family they help you, your child and your lives in more ways than even I could have imagined.
They practically moved into my house and helped toilet train my son. They helped with feeding, self help skills, sleeping issues and even shadowed at play dates. They went through my trials and tribulations with me when I sought a private school that would see beyond my son’s Autism. Lynn even went as far as calling and scheduling appointments with headmasters to argue in favor of our son’s admission to their school. Actually, she fought for our younger son as well.
Today my son is extremely bright, articulate and most of all happy. I can’t imagine, nor do I want to imagine where he would be today if the Center had not been a part of our lives. My sons have a great relationship, which we still continue to work on through the Center. My daughter loves going to the nursery and playing with her friends. Finally, we have found the son that we thought we lost much in part to the Center.
