by Lyn Waldeck Over the last few years, I have really been pleased to have families that we worked with in the past reconnect and provide updates. This week I received a very special call from a family that I worked very closely with for many years—the Giroux family. All three of their children were…
by Sara Erling It is never too late to change and improve one’s function. That tastes nice,” Austin said as he ate half of my banana. I couldn’t help but smile at him, remembering just a few short years ago, when at his initial evaluation I was told that for the past 20 years he…
In August 2017 Bob introduced you to his nine-year-old hero, Lucas Fritsche. Lucas started working with NACD when he was in pre-school and came to us with a bit of a rep and the label of autism. Lucas is now in third grade and has become a student leader in his community. In September 2016,…
A Testimonial About a Family Helping Each Child Reach Their Full Potential When our son was about four, we took him for a consultation with a well-known pediatric neurologist. Because Ben used just a few words, made little eye contact and showed little interest in other children, the diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise…
by Sue McFerren, as told to Iliana Clift I knew the risks of having a child in my 40s, and I intended to love and care for every child God blessed us with, no matter what. Still, when Sonya was born with Down syndrome I was stunned. Recognizing that having a special needs child in…
by Kristina Houser & Lyn Waldeck In the years I have been associated with NACD, I have worked with a many wonderful families. Since I have been around long enough now (20 years + in one capacity of another), I have gotten the pleasure of watching many children become wonderful adults. At a recent evaluation…
by Fatima Shaikh I am the mother of a lovely 12-year old boy, Usaid. He was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 1/2 years old. We went through all the regular denials, nightmares, helplessness, and frustrations that all parents of newly diagnosed ASD children go through. As his language started developing with speech therapy,…
by Julie Macchabee It is not how you start but how you finish the race; and by the way, this race you have begun will be a marathon. Do not feel defeated Gather your strength For if you glance to the right The sun is shining bright. Glance to your left and see that you…
My husband and I felt like deer in the headlights as we walked into Bob’s office for the first time. Just a few months before, on her first birthday, our little daughter had been diagnosed with severe cerebral palsy. Bob was quite matter of fact, confident, firm in a loving sort of way, and completely…
By Sara Erling Stephany is a beautiful and talented dancer who is 13 and from a rural area in Montana. She started with NACD in April of 2009. She had a rough start to her life, being diagnosed with Toxoplasmosis, and it was only after heavy supplementation that she recovered. Due to this slow start,…