Mother's Day: An Autism Mom Tells Her Story | Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks

7 May 201503:38

Summary

TLDRIn this heartfelt narrative, a mother shares her journey raising two autistic sons. Her older son, Justin, is 12 years old, severely autistic, and nonverbal but has made progress with around 40 words. Her younger son, Zachary, recently turned eight, is mildly autistic, and shows promise for an independent future. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of their developmental differences, the initial struggles with diagnosis, and her hopes for their happiness and safety. Despite the challenges, she emphasizes that progress is possible, and her sons continue to grow in their own unique ways.

Takeaways

👪 The family consists of the speaker, Jeff, their 12-year-old son Justin, who has severe autism and is nonverbal, and their 8-year-old son Zachary, who is mildly autistic and shows high potential.
👶 The speaker began noticing differences in Justin’s development at six months old, particularly in his lack of eye contact, fixation on spinning objects, and general unhappiness.
👨‍⚕️ The pediatrician initially dismissed concerns due to a family history of men speaking late, but eventually suggested autism when Justin was 16 months old, which led to an autism diagnosis.
🩺 Zachary developed typically until a stomach issue at two years old caused him to regress developmentally, particularly in speech, dropping back to the level of a 6-month-old.
😞 The speaker felt overwhelmed and paralyzed at first but gradually began addressing each challenge one step at a time with therapies and community involvement.
📈 Over time, Zachary has made significant progress, going from being disengaged to expressing complex thoughts, such as writing a letter about an injustice in his classroom.
🗣️ Justin, although nonverbal, has developed around 40 words he can say on demand, with some spontaneous speech, showing improvement over time.
😊 The speaker's primary goal is for both sons to be safe, productive, and happy, recognizing progress and potential in each of them.
🎓 The speaker is optimistic about Zachary’s future, believing he will live independently, have friendships, and be happy.
💡 The speaker encourages parents of children with autism, noting that even children with severe autism can have a positive future with the right support.

Q & A

Who are the family members mentioned in the script?
-The family consists of the speaker, her husband Jeff, their almost 12-year-old son Justin, who has severe autism and is predominantly nonverbal, and their 8-year-old son Zachary, who is mildly autistic.
What were some of the early signs of autism noticed in Justin?
-Justin showed early signs such as a preference for spinning things, reduced eye contact, and a general lack of happiness. These signs became concerning around 6 months old.
What prompted the family to seek further evaluations for Justin’s development?
-At a 16-month doctor's appointment, the doctor expressed concerns about Justin not walking or talking, which led the family to seek further evaluation. The doctor also handed the family several articles about autism.
How did Zachary’s autism present differently from Justin’s?
-Zachary was initially hitting all his developmental milestones but experienced a regression after a severe stomach issue that lasted two months, where his development dropped to that of a 6-month-old.
How did the parents initially respond to the overwhelming challenges of autism diagnosis?
-The parents initially felt overwhelmed and paralyzed by the diagnoses, but they gradually began addressing each issue step by step, increasing therapy time and extending Zachary's community involvement.
What recent achievement did Zachary accomplish that highlights his progress?
-Zachary recently wrote a letter to his teacher using the word 'injustice' to express his disagreement with a seating arrangement in his classroom, demonstrating significant improvement in communication.
What improvements has Justin made in his communication skills?
-Justin now has about 40 words he can say on demand, including 'mama' and 'popcorn,' which he uses spontaneously, showing gradual improvement in his communication abilities.
What are the parents' primary hopes for their sons’ futures?
-The parents hope that both Justin and Zachary will be safe and productive in the future. They also emphasize the importance of happiness for both sons, and for Zachary to live independently and have meaningful relationships.
How has the family’s outlook on Justin’s future changed over the years?
-The parents initially believed that Justin’s severe autism would limit his future, but they now see that with the right support and progress, it is possible for him to have a great future.
What message does the speaker want to convey to parents of newly diagnosed children with autism?
-The speaker wants to encourage parents by sharing that even children with severe autism, like Justin, can make progress and have a positive future with the right interventions and support.

Outlines

00:00

👨‍👩‍👦 Family Introduction and Early Signs of Autism

The speaker introduces her family, mentioning her husband Jeff, their 12-year-old son Justin who has severe autism, and their 8-year-old mildly autistic son who shows great potential. She recalls the early signs of autism in Justin, including his preference for spinning objects, reduced eye contact, and general unhappiness. Despite these concerns, initial discussions with the pediatrician were inconclusive, as there was a family history of late speech development. However, at 16 months, when Justin had reflux and wasn't walking or talking, the doctor acknowledged potential autism and handed over materials on the condition, marking the start of their autism journey.

🛑 Zachary's Sudden Regression

Zachary, their younger son, developed differently. Initially meeting his developmental milestones, he regressed following a severe stomach issue. During this two-month period, he went from being on par with his peers, aside from a speech delay, to functioning at the level of a six-month-old. This unexpected decline further overwhelmed the family, leaving them unsure of how to proceed.

💪 Step-by-Step Progress and Perseverance

The speaker explains how she overcame the overwhelming situation by addressing each challenge incrementally. She describes how they gradually increased therapy sessions and extended their time in the community, resulting in significant progress for both boys. Zachary, once without any spark in his eyes, now advocates for himself at school. He even wrote a letter using the word 'injustice' to protest a seating change. Justin has gained the ability to say around 40 words, using some spontaneously, while others are on demand, including 'mama' and 'popcorn.' His progress, though slower, brings his parents joy.

🌟 Hopes and Dreams for the Future

The speaker shares her hopes for her sons' futures. For Justin, she once doubted whether he would be able to lead a safe and productive life, but now she is more optimistic. She encourages other parents with severely autistic children by reminding them that a great future is possible, even for those on the severe end of the spectrum. As for Zachary, she believes he will live independently and foster meaningful friendships, with the most important goal for both of her children being their happiness.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. In the video, it plays a central role as both of the speaker's sons have autism—one severely and the other mildly. The speaker discusses the early signs of autism, such as lack of eye contact and delayed speech, and how it has shaped their family's journey.

💡Nonverbal

Nonverbal refers to a person’s inability or limited ability to use spoken language to communicate. In the video, Justin, the older son, is described as predominantly nonverbal, meaning he communicates with very few spoken words, a key aspect of his severe autism.

💡Developmental milestones

Developmental milestones are key abilities or skills that children typically achieve at certain ages, such as walking, talking, or interacting socially. The video mentions concerns when Justin wasn’t meeting expected milestones like walking and talking, leading to the eventual autism diagnosis.

💡Reflux

Reflux, a condition where stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, is mentioned when the parents took Justin to the doctor at 16 months. This moment highlights the medical concerns that prompted deeper discussions about Justin’s development and led to his autism diagnosis.

💡Therapy

Therapy refers to interventions aimed at improving the symptoms of a condition. The video emphasizes how therapy has been essential for the boys’ progress, with their mother describing how they worked on each issue, step by step, like doing extra minutes of therapy sessions to help with development.

💡Independence

Independence is the ability to live and function on one's own. In the video, the mother expresses hope that Zachary, her mildly autistic son, will be able to live independently in the future. This idea reflects the goal of many parents of autistic children, to help them achieve as much independence as possible.

💡Speech delay

Speech delay refers to when a child is not speaking as expected for their age. Both sons experienced speech delays, with Justin having severe difficulties and Zachary also being behind his peers in speech. This was one of the first signs the parents noticed, which eventually led to the autism diagnosis.

💡Social relationships

Social relationships refer to connections and interactions with others. The mother emphasizes that, beyond independence, she hopes her sons will have fulfilling social lives. Zachary, the younger son, has shown a desire for friendships, and the mother is pleased that he is starting to form relationships.

💡Diagnosis

A diagnosis is the identification of a condition or disease. The video recounts the journey toward both boys' autism diagnoses, marked by early signs like speech delays and lack of eye contact, and the challenges faced in recognizing and accepting these signs in the medical context.

💡Happiness

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. Toward the end of the video, the mother emphasizes that her main goal for both her sons is for them to be happy. This illustrates the broader emotional goal of the family’s journey, focusing on their sons’ well-being beyond their developmental challenges.

Highlights

Introduction of the family, including Jeff, their 12-year-old son Justin with severe autism, and their 8-year-old son Zachary, who is mildly autistic.

The mother first noticed developmental differences in Justin at 6 months, including a fascination with spinning objects and limited eye contact.

Concerns about Justin's happiness were prominent early on, as he rarely appeared happy.

Despite raising concerns to their pediatrician, the family initially received feedback attributing Justin's delays to a history of late-speaking men in the family.

At 16 months, a doctor's appointment revealed more serious concerns, including Justin's delay in walking and talking.

The doctor eventually handed the parents several articles on autism, signaling a shift in their understanding of Justin's condition.

Zachary, their younger son, initially met his developmental milestones but regressed after experiencing a severe stomach issue.

Zachary's development dropped from being on par with his peers to the level of a six-month-old during his illness.

The parents felt overwhelmed at first, unsure of what to do, but gradually took a step-by-step approach to addressing each issue.

By adding small increments of therapy and extending his time in the community, Zachary made substantial progress over six years.

Zachary’s teacher recently praised his progress, noting his ability to express himself, including writing a letter about an 'injustice' in the classroom.

Justin has also made progress, now able to say around 40 words on demand, including 'Mama' and 'popcorn.'

Although Justin can say 'Dad,' he mostly uses his words for requests, showing continued communication development.

The mother expresses her primary desire for both boys to be safe and productive, focusing on their happiness and well-being.

Her message to parents of children newly diagnosed with autism is one of hope, encouraging them that progress, even for severe cases, is possible.

The mother believes Zachary will live independently and emphasizes the importance of friendship, which Zachary is now successfully forming.