“At Next Step, we were able to relate autism to something positive. It literally changed our lives. We would not be where we are today without the team at Next Step.”

-Ben’s mother 

At his two-year-old wellness visit, Ben did not meet the mark for speech, but his pediatrician wasn’t too concerned at the time. When it was time for him to move from the 2 to 3-year-old class in daycare, his teacher noticed he was showing some signs of delay. At two-and-a-half, he was evaluated and received an at-risk diagnosis for autism. He attended a developmental preschool while his parents sought outside therapy options and officially received his autism diagnosis three months before turning 4. Shortly after that, Ben started intensive ABA therapy at Next Step. 

“It felt like a race against the clock. You have to figure out how to get diagnosed, resources aren’t always available, and you have to do a lot of digging and advocating. But, once we got to Next Step, it felt like I could finally breathe, and things were coming together.”  

When Ben began therapy at Next Step, he wasn’t making eye contact, only said a few words, and struggled with emotional regulation. After some weeks in therapy, his parents began to notice a lightness about him– he was talking more and seemed happier. At Ben’s fourth birthday party, just three months after he started therapy, his extended family reported to his parents that he seemed different, that he was blossoming.  

Every few weeks, parents attend a therapy session with their child’s therapist and behavior analyst to ensure the continuity of skills between the clinic and home. These sessions helped Ben’s parents encourage independent skills at home, such as communicating when hungry, requesting a snack, and preparing it for himself. Additionally, when our clinic was temporarily closed at the onset of the COVID pandemic, Ben was successfully toilet trained at home. He showed great initiative, and his parents appreciated the support they received from his behavior analyst through virtual monthly supervisions.

Ben’s parents also appreciated the individualized approach Next Step took in therapy. They loved to see lists posted in his therapy room of things he likes and dislikes and how he communicates emotions.  

“The staff really knew who Ben was and saw all the beauty in him. Once he started Next Step and got the support he needed, that’s when he had a chance to believe in himself and know that he was understood and capable of things.” 

This past March, Ben joined SDSA’s inclusive preschool classroom to prepare for his transition into kindergarten. Here he gained experience participating in group instruction while still receiving one-on-one support from his therapist. The preschool consists of children of SDSA staff members and Next Step clients. He gravitated toward the neurotypical students in the classroom and developed relationships with all the students. The photo below is from his time in preschool. When he graduated, he received the Caring Friend award! 

After just under two years in intensive therapy, Ben graduated from Next Step. He recently began kindergarten in a self-contained classroom with his local school district. He takes extracurriculars with gen-ed students and may have the opportunity to transition into more mainstream classes when he is ready. The transition into kindergarten hasn’t been easy, but his parents have appreciated the continued communication and support they have received from Ben’s behavior analyst at Next Step.

Today, Ben is five and a half. He has a great sense of humor, is strikingly intelligent, and is very affectionate. He can advocate for himself, intuitively reads other people’s emotions, and has a great imagination. He is spirited, cares for animals, and has an impressive memory. Ben even knows how to get to the zoo from his house and directs his parents while they drive! 

His parents, extended family, and team of therapists and behavior analysts at Next Step are so proud of the ways he has grown and will continue to grow.  

When we asked his mother if she had any advice for parents at the start of their autism journey, this was her answer: 

“Get the diagnosis. Don’t be afraid of the ‘what if’ and if your child will be diagnosed with autism. Although hard to hear and process, the diagnosis will open the door to get services that will help your child. It is hard to see your child summed up on a piece of paper that lists all the areas and milestones your child is not meeting. I remember feeling devastated as a parent to read what a doctor thought of my child and what he was minimally capable of or what they thought he would never be able to do. But I kept pushing forward, looking for any therapy or service I could get Ben into because early intervention is critical. The diagnosis is powerful and will allow you to be able to advocate for your child. 

Autism isn’t something to be afraid of, but the ability to look at the world differently. There are rough days with autism for sure but look for the beauty in every situation. Ben couldn’t speak for the longest time, and trying to figure out his needs was difficult. But it taught me that love needs no words and that he can do anything!”

We are honored to have been part of Ben’s journey and wish him well as he begins his school career. Thank you to Ben’s mother, Isabella, for sharing her story with our community!

For more information about our early intervention clinic, Next Step, visit https://nextstepsw.com.