April is Autism Awareness Month!
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication as well as having different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
As his mother, I was excited to be pregnant. My son Kaleb was such a beautiful baby with dreamy hazel eyes. Our family was happy when he finally arrived. When Kaleb was only a few months old, I noticed he would allow me to have limited physical contact with him, which was very different from my other three children. Therefore, bathing, feeding or holding him was challenging and he would cry until I placed him back in his crib. This continued for a while. Therefore, I had him tested and to my surprise, at three years old, our beautiful son, Kaleb Williams was officially diagnosed with ASD! Needless to say, I was flooded with a gamut of emotions.
As a family, we educated ourselves regarding how to adjust to our “new normal”. One thing I did was enrolled him in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy that taught Kaleb helpful skills to promote independence. It was a tremendous success!
As Kaleb got older, I began to experience anxiety with the very thought of him attending primary school. I knew I would have to stay focused on making sure he received everything he needed to be successful. A nonstandard lesson plan is required for students with unique abilities. Therefore, I have become an educational advocate for my son. I am determined to keep a sense of normalcy in his life at school and at home; and for Kaleb, repetition and structure are key factors in his routine.
A typical school day consists of waking Kaleb up. He dresses himself for school. In his own style, he perfectly makes his bed and opens his blinds. After he’s done, he goes to the front door to keep an eye out for his school bus.
Initially, Kaleb did not like going to school; he had been accustomed to attending Little World Daycare since he was three months old. However, after he realized that primary school was added to his routine, he began to love it and he still does. When Kaleb began school, he was restricted to self-contained classes; he has now progressed to attend some general education classes. He also has a private tutor to help him get to his next level. Every morning, he enjoys greeting the school staff with a big smile (keep in mind that individuals with ASD are said to have problems interacting socially). He is also supportive and protective of his classmates.
After school, as soon as Kaleb gets home, he puts his school clothes in his hamper and expects his favorite snack—popcorn. As he impatiently waits for his popcorn to finish cooking, he grabs his tablet and watches one of his favorite movies, typically Toy Story. After that, he may go zooming through the house on his skates or scooter. Then it’s dinnertime. You may ask why Kaleb is allowed to eat popcorn first. It’s a part of his dinner. Some individuals with ASD will eat certain foods, so it’s popcorn every day!
He also has a nightly routine. Before going to bed, Kaleb will either trace his alphabet or reluctantly write his numbers. A funny thing that Kaleb has learned is that when we read a whole book at bedtime, he’s allowed to stay up a bit longer. Little does he know, I realize that a nighttime story actually calms and prepares him for a good night’s rest. He gives me instructions on how hot he likes his shower. The last thing he does is gather his “friends”, Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the crew, line them up on the couch, cover them with a blanket, then get in his own bed.
Kaleb does not limit himself to having ASD. He is just Kaleb, a unique kid with a lot to offer!
