tamara
01-26-2005, 06:22 AM
To whom it may concern, 1/25/2005
My son Jack is now twenty-seven months old. He was diagnosed with Autism at seventeen months old. My husband and my family were not aware of what autism was, as well as me. We had the misconception that all children where like the “Rain man movie” and that was all we knew.
At the beginning of our questioning of what was different about Jack our pediatrician referred us to an early intervention program to have Jack tested. At the time we asked so many questions and we were told not to label him and he may grow out of it. From there I started to visit all the places that were available to Jack on a list that is given to families from early intervention, the state program for children with special needs. I found out very quickly that so many people are also un-educated in the therapy of Autism as well as even understanding it all together. Most therapist that come to the home and are at day program type facilities do not have the educational background or the current information on how to even start to communicate with an autistic child. As I am finding out that Autism is at an epidemic rising but there is no were to go for our children and not anyone to ask all the questions or guide us in the day to day living with our children that are so different.
I was told by our intervention program that Jack was too young to attend a private school that I had heard about for developmentally delayed children and I believed them. I started asking anyone and everyone of anywhere I can take Jack and help him because the in home therapy was not working at all. The other option that was on our list was to put him in Easter Seals and they have both normally, physically challenged, Down syndrome and autistic children mixed together. Their belief is that if I put Jack in a class with those children he will learn by example and become more desensitized too. That is far from the truth. Also the educational back ground of the teachers did not have to be of any qualifications except to be able to work in childcare. We didn’t know what to do and without the knowledge it was tearing our family apart, we couldn’t communicate with Jack and he couldn’t communicate with us. Jack has an older brother and a younger sister that are normally developing.
Finally I was told by a friend that she thought I should call the private school “Pinnacle Academy” and just ask questions and see if they can give me any guidance. I called and spoke with Kirstina Ordetx. She was amazing to talk with and the relief that someone was understanding what I was going thru with Jack and how much I still didn’t know about Autism and sensory integration was overwhelming, this was our beginning and I knew it. I felt hope and excitement after talking an extended time with her, I shared the news with our family that we are not alone and someone does understand autism. Kirstina made an appointment to see Jack and give him an evaluation. From there I contacted my early intervention program and did find out that I could take Jack to the school but still they did not feel that he was old enough to grasp any concepts of communication. Please read the attached letter of evaluation and Kirstina was absolutely correct about everything that she wrote. Jack was nineteen months old when Kirstina came into his life as well as ours. From then we have been having one hour therapy sessions with Kirstina and another fantastic therapist Mandy. The “ABA” program has changed our lives to the deepest, most wonderful part of Jack we ever seen. He is learning everyday, little by little. Any concerns and questions about Jack are always met with the most awesome ways to deal with him and how our family is becoming a family. I can not express in words how Pinnacle Academy changed not only Jack’s life but all the people that are connected to him. There is not another place that I want Jack to go because this place is where he belongs and he is with people that understand him and truly care about him, not just for right now but for as long as it takes. We are lucky that Kirstina was able to except Jack in the Academy. I don’t know where Jack would be right now or as his parents were or how we would deal with him and the daily routines of a functioning household. My hope is that Kirstina will be able to extend her amazing service speech therapy and Occupational therapy in the convenience of one place and also other professionals that Jack needs. It is very hard for Jack to make changes and with him feeling comfortable at Pinnacle it would be better to introduce new teachers and doctors of many different fields at one place for Jack, our “Jack-A-Roo” has so much to say but without the help of Pinnacle Academy we would never know how to reach him or how to teach him to reach us. Thank you Kirstina for your dedication to our children and making a difference in our community. For understanding Autism and providing a place for our children to finally go and learn at their individual pace. Like you say to the parents, “Each child is a snow flake, no two are alike” and how true it is.
Sincerely,
John and Candace Soehnel
(Jack Soehnel’s parents and advocates)
941-751-2769
My son Jack is now twenty-seven months old. He was diagnosed with Autism at seventeen months old. My husband and my family were not aware of what autism was, as well as me. We had the misconception that all children where like the “Rain man movie” and that was all we knew.
At the beginning of our questioning of what was different about Jack our pediatrician referred us to an early intervention program to have Jack tested. At the time we asked so many questions and we were told not to label him and he may grow out of it. From there I started to visit all the places that were available to Jack on a list that is given to families from early intervention, the state program for children with special needs. I found out very quickly that so many people are also un-educated in the therapy of Autism as well as even understanding it all together. Most therapist that come to the home and are at day program type facilities do not have the educational background or the current information on how to even start to communicate with an autistic child. As I am finding out that Autism is at an epidemic rising but there is no were to go for our children and not anyone to ask all the questions or guide us in the day to day living with our children that are so different.
I was told by our intervention program that Jack was too young to attend a private school that I had heard about for developmentally delayed children and I believed them. I started asking anyone and everyone of anywhere I can take Jack and help him because the in home therapy was not working at all. The other option that was on our list was to put him in Easter Seals and they have both normally, physically challenged, Down syndrome and autistic children mixed together. Their belief is that if I put Jack in a class with those children he will learn by example and become more desensitized too. That is far from the truth. Also the educational back ground of the teachers did not have to be of any qualifications except to be able to work in childcare. We didn’t know what to do and without the knowledge it was tearing our family apart, we couldn’t communicate with Jack and he couldn’t communicate with us. Jack has an older brother and a younger sister that are normally developing.
Finally I was told by a friend that she thought I should call the private school “Pinnacle Academy” and just ask questions and see if they can give me any guidance. I called and spoke with Kirstina Ordetx. She was amazing to talk with and the relief that someone was understanding what I was going thru with Jack and how much I still didn’t know about Autism and sensory integration was overwhelming, this was our beginning and I knew it. I felt hope and excitement after talking an extended time with her, I shared the news with our family that we are not alone and someone does understand autism. Kirstina made an appointment to see Jack and give him an evaluation. From there I contacted my early intervention program and did find out that I could take Jack to the school but still they did not feel that he was old enough to grasp any concepts of communication. Please read the attached letter of evaluation and Kirstina was absolutely correct about everything that she wrote. Jack was nineteen months old when Kirstina came into his life as well as ours. From then we have been having one hour therapy sessions with Kirstina and another fantastic therapist Mandy. The “ABA” program has changed our lives to the deepest, most wonderful part of Jack we ever seen. He is learning everyday, little by little. Any concerns and questions about Jack are always met with the most awesome ways to deal with him and how our family is becoming a family. I can not express in words how Pinnacle Academy changed not only Jack’s life but all the people that are connected to him. There is not another place that I want Jack to go because this place is where he belongs and he is with people that understand him and truly care about him, not just for right now but for as long as it takes. We are lucky that Kirstina was able to except Jack in the Academy. I don’t know where Jack would be right now or as his parents were or how we would deal with him and the daily routines of a functioning household. My hope is that Kirstina will be able to extend her amazing service speech therapy and Occupational therapy in the convenience of one place and also other professionals that Jack needs. It is very hard for Jack to make changes and with him feeling comfortable at Pinnacle it would be better to introduce new teachers and doctors of many different fields at one place for Jack, our “Jack-A-Roo” has so much to say but without the help of Pinnacle Academy we would never know how to reach him or how to teach him to reach us. Thank you Kirstina for your dedication to our children and making a difference in our community. For understanding Autism and providing a place for our children to finally go and learn at their individual pace. Like you say to the parents, “Each child is a snow flake, no two are alike” and how true it is.
Sincerely,
John and Candace Soehnel
(Jack Soehnel’s parents and advocates)
941-751-2769