Living with Autism
David and Rocio Gonzalez had no idea what to expect when their son, Adriel, now five years old, was diagnosed with Autism. Adriel is non- verbal, in that he is unable to communicate his wants and desires with words.
Prior to the newly- formed Collaborative Training Classroom at Children’s Village – a program in a classroom setting geared toward preparing children with significant social, emotional, and communicative delays for school – Adriel spent his days crying, yelling, screaming and banging his hands on tables, floors, walls, and even his parents. “Living with Autism is so difficult, so isolating, for him and us,” says his father, David. “Before this program, we had no way of knowing why he was upset or what he needed. He just couldn’t communicate with us in the same way our other children could,” he says.
Through early intervention and the Collaborative Training Classroom at Children’s Village, Adriel has learned to communicate through picture exchange. When he wants something to eat or drink, he’s able to hand his parents a card to let them know what he needs. Now he understands when his parents ask him to do something.
“I didn’t know anything about Autism,” says Rocio. “I thought with love and a committed family, it would eventually go away, like a fever.” Today, Rocio and David, along with their other children, Estephania, 16, and Andrea, 6, are so grateful for the opportunities Children’s Village provides them.
“They give us parent support through the Parent to Parent program, professional help to solve challenges we continue to face, and dental services, so we can make one stop instead of taking Adriel to multiple places in town,” Rocio says.
David’s concern is for his whole family, and he expresses the difference Children’s Village has made. “Rocio cries less. Our days are still very difficult. Sometimes, Adriel just stares into space, out a window, or at a wall when we try to get his attention. But it’s better. We all have more hope,” David says.
David and Rocio say they are grateful for the medical and dental support but also for the family support the Village gives them, like hosting family nights with other parents who have children with special needs. “The staff listens to our concerns. They offer us options. They give us support when we need it.”
Adriel is the first child to graduate from the Collaborative Training Classroom* and has now successfully transitioned to a full-day program in his school district.
*The Collaborative Training Classroom is made up of students from Central Washington University, Children’s Village educators and occupational and speech therapists, Educational Service District 105 professionals, and teachers from local school districts. The classroom is currently funded through The Memorial Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Early Learning Yakima Children’s Fund.
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