“Levi can’t move up with his class.”
It was April of last year, and Levi’s preschool teacher has
just delivered the news that no parent wants to hear. At the time, Levi was 20
months and had been in the 1 year old class at school. In
the fall, we had hopes of moving Levi up to the 2 year old class with his
peers. However, even at that early time, Levi was already experiencing some
pretty significant developmental delays as he could not walk, talk, or
communicate in any way. Not only did he lack all verbal and nonverbal
communication, but Levi also did not understand any words, commands, or
questions that were said to him.
Although we completely understood and respected the school’s
position (Lucas is enrolled at this preschool in the fall because we LOVE them),
we were crushed, confused and slightly
panicked about the future. Up until this point, I had been taking Levi to
therapy twice a week before I would drop him off at school and go to work.
Because successful therapy happens with consistency and repetition, Levi was
making absolutely no progress. Between both Mitch and I working full time and
Levi’s school not having the time, resources, or knowledge to work on his
therapy, the consistency and repetition just weren’t present. We struggled
daily between the desire to help our son and the lack of resources and
knowledge to enable us to help him.
That summer, after Levi’s official diagnoses, we had a friend
approach us about Easter Seals. Mitch and I knew very little about Easter
Seals, but we called and made an appointment anyways. For those who are unfamiliar, Easter Seals is
nonprofit, community-based agency that assists more than one million children
and adults with disabilities and their families annually. They provide
services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism
and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities. Just
a few of the amazing things they offer are:
-
Medical Rehabilitation
-
Child Care
-
Early Intervention
-
Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy ON
SITE
-
Adult Day Services
Needless to say, we were very nervous about sending our
nonverbal child somewhere new, but Easter Seals was able to offer Levi so much
more than any other place we had researched. Therefore, in August of 2015 Levi
started attending Easter Seals.
No words. No gestures. No sign language. No sounds. No peer
interaction. No mimicking. No walking up or down stairs. No running without
falling. No understanding of any words, commandments, or questions. Easily
angered. Frustrated. These were the things that described Levi’s development
when he entered Easter Seals. At 2 years old, Levi was measuring at the social
& communication level of a 9-10 month old. Needless to say, Easter Seals
had their work cut out for them!
For the past 10 months, Levi has attended Easter Seals full
time. In a typical week, he receives speech and occupational therapy, as well
as physical therapy twice a month. His teachers and therapists communicate
weekly about new goals for Levi to be working on while he is in class and at
home. Furthermore, his teachers work tirelessly on his sign language, words,
sounds, sharing, gestures, and self-help skills. I will NEVER be able to put into
words how much his two teachers mean to us for the love and dedication that
have put into a child that is not their own.
Signing. Pointing. Walking. Running. Interacting with peers. Trying new foods. Understanding words.
Saying Words. Happy.
Not even a year later, and these are the words and phrases
we are able to use about our son. This time last year we were told he might
never talk. However, today, he can say not just one word, but almost TEN
different words. Today, he can run without falling every few seconds. Today, he
will actually interact with his cousins. Today, he will say “Wove you” as we
put him to bed.
And it is all because of Easter Seals. Because they see
value and potential where the world does not. Because they believed that Levi
could reach a higher potential and they would not and will not stop until he
reaches it.
We are so incredibly thankful that the Lord decided to use
Easter Seals to answer so many of our prayers and we will forever be indebted
to them for the love and effort they have put into helping Levi and our family.
If you are interested
in learning more about Easter Seals, please visit:
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