I am grateful for all of the therapy and everything it has helped Gracie accomplish. She literally makes progress every single day.  We are still working on many programs that encourage expressive communication. This year, one program, “ANIMAL sounds” has really stuck with her in more ways than one.

Ok. Having grown up with four brothers, dancing was never my thing.  After a few ballet classes at the YMCA, I quit to join flag football.  Then came Grace and Isabelle, my twin girls. All girl. All pink. I tried to buy gender neutral toys, exposed them to Thomas the Train, matchbox cars, Legos, soccer, baseball, nature camps. But, they have always been drawn to stereotypical girl toys, books and activities. Isabelle, on behalf of Gracie and herself, begged for two years to take a ballet class. I thought it would blow over.

I took a deep breath as the developmental pediatrician walked into the room on the day our daughter, Gracie, age 3, was evaluated for Autism. Surprisingly, my husband and I were told, “You can take autism off the plate, but there are ‘other’ things ON the plate.” We were not expecting this. In many ways, having no diagnosis became more confusing. Now what were we suppose to do? What next? She needed help. I needed help.