When they decide to start a family, most couples have an idea of what their family will look like. This includes vacations, birthday parties, and taking their children out for holidays and community events. However, an autism diagnosis can complicate this picture, making these things feel like an impossibility. When their sons, Abhishake Jr “Abhi” (7) and Ayushman “Yushi” (4), were diagnosed with Autism, Abhishake and Alonna felt like their lives were slowing to a halt. While they knew programs and options were available for parents of children with autism, they struggled to find resources in St. Charles County that were accessible to them.
When Abhishake first met Kelly Rosenblatt and Tom Barry from Easterseals, it was unrelated to his children’s autism diagnoses; he worked at the hotel where Easterseals hosts our annual Festival Gala. However, after hearing about his children, Kelly and Tom connected him with our Parent Training program, and after about a month and a half, Abhishake and Alonna were enrolled in the program and able to participate while only paying for a limited amount of the cost.
Initially, they were reserved about the program. Alonna felt that, as a parent, she naturally knew what was best for her child and went in with a limited understanding of what Parent Training would entail. However, she quickly discovered that Anna, their parent trainer, had a lot to teach them. When reflecting on the program, Alonna noted:
We learned so much about our children that we didn’t know…Anna saved our lives.
Now, they are able to address communication barriers between themselves and their children, as well as fully understand what sparks Abhi and Yushi’s interests. They had tools to communicate their own emotions to their children, as well as the tools to help their children communicate their own emotions. Abhi’s aggressive behavioral responses have drastically declined as a result. Yushi, who is nonverbal, is vocalizing more and more. Alonna celebrates her children’s progress.
We have pushed them to new heights with Easterseals…it helped us to establish our norm, even if it’s not the norm for everyone else. It gave us peace.
The feeling that their life has slowed down has vanished. For Abhi and Yushi, this means traveling to the Great Wolf Lodge for Abhi’s next birthday, something the boys would not have been able to do prior to Parent Training due to behavior and safety concerns. For the parents, this means taking their first trip together as a couple to see Beyonce in Vegas, knowing that they can pass along the tools they picked up at Easterseals to those who are taking care of the boys while they’re gone.
