For many children, nothing exceeds the joy of games like singing, playing with bubbles, or settling down for story time with a great book. It is understandable, then, how frustrating it can be for children with special needs to struggle to participate in the joys of childhood. With autism diagnoses on the rise, many children struggle to maintain the focus and developmental skills required to engage in these activities. With the help of programs from The Warren Center, children facing even the most unlikely odds can achieve drastic improvements.
Three-year-old Joanna is an excellent example of the triumphs children with autism can achieve through The Warren Center. During her first 18 months of life, Joanna struggled to play interactively with children and to express herself verbally. In response to these challenges, her parents enrolled her in an array of programs at The Warren Center, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills therapy, and physical therapy. After regular participation in these programs, Joanna now makes an effort to vocalize requests and make eye contact with others. She also participates in joyous activities like singing nursery rhymes, playing with bubbles, or reading her favorite picture books. In addition to social activities, Joanna is also working hard to climb stairs and feed herself independently, helping to ensure that she can complete age-appropriate tasks once she reaches school age.
Because autism awareness has increased exponentially in the past few years, specialists and caretakers have been able to make incredible gains in helping children like Joanna live their best lives. With the help of your tax-deductible donation, we will continue to have the resources needed to help children with Autism succeed.
