SUCCESS STORY
Mia
Dr. Karen Fried, the Director of Autism Services at Franziska Racker Centers, evaluated Mia at 3 years old and she was diagnosed as having moderate to severe 
Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, a diagnosis within the autism spectrum. She was functioning at a 12-18 month old level and her eye contact, motor skills, and emotional development were delayed. Sensory overload was a common issue and made outings close to impossible. A trip to the grocery store could result in a meltdown. Mia was extremely afraid of changes in elevation, making tasks such as climbing up or down the bus stairs very challenging. She was echolalic and so could only mimic sounds. Thus she grew frustrated quickly when she tried to communic
ate.
Enter Franziska Racker Centers. After her evaluation, Mia began Early Intervention (EI) in January of 2006. What changed? Everything.
"Within six months of starting EI she was like a whole new child," states Julie, Mia's mother. "She began to interact with other kids when, in the past, she would only be with me." Mia and Julie began to communicate using simple sign language and her frustration level dropped. Her teachers and therapists worked with Mia each day at school and sent a notebook home each night so Julie would know about her activities and accomplishments. The school also sent home pictures with Velcro on the back so Mia could continue to communicate at home the same way she was at school. Her eye contact increased and her verbal skills improved.
Today, Mia is a bright happy girl all the time. Her occupational therapist says that Mia now loves to climb and her speech therapist reports that her vocabulary is at age level, that her language skills are close to that as well. She continues to make friends and was a guest at a classmate's birthday party for the first time. She is preparing for kindergarten by learning to walk in line and take directions. She excels in art and has developed her own unique style. Her imaginative play skills have blossomed.
When asked what the shining moment was in relation to the progress Mia has made, Julie recounted a story about a morning about 3 months after Mia started at the Centers. Julie woke her for school and for the first time Mia called her mommy. "I guess you tend to appreciate those milestones much more when they don't come as easily," Julie adds.
Mia's continued progress wouldn't be possible without the teamwork of the daycare and preschool staff at the Centers. "Her social workers, therapists, and teachers are truly vested in her success. I couldn't imagine where we would be without Franziska Racker Centers," concludes Julie.
UPDATE! Mia is now in kindergarten and doing great! Her verbal skills have continued to improve and her enunciation is excellent. She has started to learn to write and has great penmanship and use of words. Mia still receives speech, physical and occupational therapies but it is uncertain that she will need to continue them into first grade. She is fully integrated into a typical kindergarten classroom and enjoys school and her new friends. She also enjoys coming home to play Lego Games on her play station and spend time with her sisters. Mia's mom Julie says, 'She is doing just great and is leaps and bounds from where we started a few years ago.'
