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When it comes to autism, networking is a matter of survival. With so many therapies, diets and educational suggestions, parents often do not know where to turn as they go down one path after another searching for answers.
Throughout their searches, they meet experts and parents they trust, collecting them into a communication network, often sharing the ups and downs.
Peter is still in elementary school, so it is easy to keep in touch with therapists, teachers and aides that have seen him go from a slightly verbal kindergartner to a somewhat outspoken fifth grader. They are all still in the same school building. I also keep in touch with a couple of the people that meant the most to his progress during his preschool years.
Just recently Peter and I met his at-home preschool special education teacher, Marion, for an after school snack. We have been in touch by email over the years and she has stopped by for a couple of visits. Peter is always worried he is going to have to do work, so this time we went to Paneras. It is a Peter local favorite because he can get his two favorite things in one placemacaroni and cheese and a brownie.
It was not Peters best day. He has been having worry issues about the weather and he wanted to keep checking on the clouds while we were in Paneras. Even with that though, Marion was able to see so many changes Peter has made since he was four.
With the way Peter has been the past couple of weeks, it was nice to have the reminder of how far he has come. Peter was not even speaking in sentences when he and Marion first met. She marveled several times at Peters level of speech. It is spontaneous now (he used to mimic when he did speak).
She enjoyed how he can follow directions, which back then had to be repeated numerous times. Peter did several imitations for Marion upon request (now he has a focused way to mimic). He asked her a couple of questions. In preschool he was incapable of asking a question. He had a real conversation about our trip with give and take.
The networkit works in both directions I found out. Marion sometimes uses Peter as an example to parents with preschoolers that are worrying. She points to his accomplishments as proof that the same can happen for this group of preschoolers. Perhaps this column can be a new link in the network. The comments section is a great way to start a conversation with other families that may already know that piece to the puzzle.
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