My name is Nashay, and I have two daughters and one of them is a 5 year old princess named, Zoë, who is in kindergarten now.
When Zoë was born at full term, I never thought in a million years she would be diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2.
Little things that triggered my child, like one not talking, she was grunts and bang her head when I didn’t understand her, she would line up her toys and not really play with them or knew how to. That made me contact Early Intervention and they spent two hours with them telling me they can work with her, but to schedule an appointment with an developmental pediatrician (which I was on waitlist for six months) for them to tell me she had autism, but high functioning.
She has had special instruction, wrap around services with TSS, and behavioral and all therapist you can get and then some with autism.
My daughter has came a long way. I’m forever grateful for the Early intervention unit. They have helped Zoë with speech and I also got her into extra therapy at a place called theraplay and since then she has been discharged for doing so well and now is in kindergarten going on to first grade soon.
My message to all families especially African American families is don’t be afraid and think that “they will grow out of it” or it’s just a phase with a behavior or something that may seem off to you with your child. There is no shame in asking for help and seeing what the problem is for you child.
To the parents we are strong and you are doing an amazing job with your child. And good luck with love
Nashay and Zoë
I love how you have been a “GREAT” mommy. She is so loved. 🙂
Thank you for this. I am going through this at the moment my daughter is 3 she will be 4 in Dec. She has been through Early Intervention which I absolutely loved how they worked with my child. She is currently going through the LIU program and I’m very hopeful. She has come along way Do you have any advice or are there any places that you would recommend for additional help?