When I first met JR at the age of 4 he was running around his house screaming with cars in his hands screaming. His parents were told by professionals to get used to the fact that he may never be invited to birthday parties, or navigate a classroom independently. Rather than focusing on the negatives of autism such as, “your child will never, can’t, etc.” I focus on the positives. All I saw in J.R. was a child with lots of potential. When I started with J.R. I set the expectations high and his parents were immediately onboard and trusted me to safely push their son outside of his comfort zone. JR worked very hard and each day there were different challenges as well as successes. Not only did JR have to put in the work but his parents did too, as they followed through with the implemented plans and homework. Twelve years later, JR. is attending a private high school independently. Has an amazing group of friends and he is the manager of the football team where he encourages his teammates to do their best. Although J.R. has to sometimes work harder than his peers he does it with ease and he is happy. He loves sports, traveling, Buffalo Wild Wings, Snapchat, and doing all the things a teenage boy at 16 loves to do. He has told his parents that he is working hard because he wants to go to college. Recently, I asked him, “Did you believe in my approach when I started working with you?”
His response, “At first I didn’t believe in you and the things you wanted me to do. I didn’t like it, but now I believe in you because you make me feel happy, like I’m myself, and my life… I have a beautiful life.”
Success for me is not what I can do for your child. Success is when parents trust and support the process no matter how hard it can be. Success is when I have the privilege to watch my clients realize their full potential and have a positive outlook on life and their future.
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