Benny Brown was not like other ten-year-old boys. He could not speak, sit down to eat, use a fork and knife, or follow simple one-step directions outside (like “turn right”).
When Benny needed to ask for something, he pushed or pulled an adult toward the item, flopped on the floor, or made loud noises while flapping his hands.
Benny engaged in repetitive and self-stimulative behaviors such as mouthing, had a poor attention span and lacked self-direction. He lacked basic self-care skills, such as the ability to wash his hands or clean up after meals and didn’t listen to his parents.
Benny also couldn’t use the bathroom alone or play with other kids.
His parents, Erica and Dylan, had tried hard to get Benny's help. They even moved to a new school district so he’d have better resources.
Starting Therapy
My name is Desirie Sykes, and I am a Behavior Consultant and the founder of NESS Behavior Consulting Inc. On Monday, May 7, 2018, Benny was enrolled in ABA therapy under my supervision and care. I developed both short-term and long-term goals for Benny to live a happier and more independent life.
I also coached Erica and Dylan on how to effectively manage Benny and help him improve even when a therapist wasn’t around.
It didn’t take long for Benny to become comfortable with the staff and he started to improve on several fronts.
We accompanied Benny to settings like the grocery store and the dentist. We sat down with him at family dinners. If Benny needed help, we were there.
The Results
After three months, Benny had learned some essential skills. He could now communicate his needs with a communication device. He could sit down nicely for long periods, use a fork, and share toys with others. Benny flaps his hands much less often, and he uses the bathroom on his own.
Erica and Dylan celebrated the small successes and looked forward, with patience, to a brighter and more independent future for Benny.
The Secret to Benny’s Success
So, what was it that helped Benny develop so quickly? How did he end up on a trajectory to live a much fuller and happier life?
One element is seeing each child as a holistic individual with strengths, weaknesses, and communication methods.
But the most important factor that helped Benny is that his parents took action and got their child's help.
They appreciated that the longer you wait to get help, the longer it takes to help your child. They decided they didn’t want to stall or delay or look into it “someday.”
Now, look where Benny is.
The Cost of Autism
According to a study posted in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, the lifetime cost of care for a person with autism is $1,400,000 to $2,400,000. That includes medical, non-medical, and indirect costs.
Approximately 79% of those expenses are medical care, home health care, special education, and after-school care. A further 9% is due to wages that the parents give up to care for their child.
Home health care for adults with autism ranges from $18,080 to $36,161 yearly — double the cost of medical care.
That’s why one of our top goals is to help our clients develop the tools they need to live and thrive independently as adults, so they don’t have to pay for home care.
And the sooner you get started, the more significant an impact our services will have.
The parents who work with us feel they are investing greatly in their children. It turns out they also make a great investment in their financial future.
There’s Hope For Every Child
Imagine train tracks that stretch to the horizon. If you alter the course of those train tracks just a couple of degrees, they will end up miles away from where they point now.
ABA therapy is about helping your child change direction now so they end up at a different destination in the future.
By helping children with autism learn the communication, social, and life skills they need, we can help them live more independently for the rest of their lives.
There is hope for every child.
Now It’s Your Turn
Would you like to get help for your child? Our team of highly experienced professionals has many decades of combined experience helping kids with autism.
We can look at ways to address whatever is on your mind, including:
Signs of autism
Helping you set up a diagnostic evaluation
Toileting issues
Temper tantrums
Social skills issues
Difficulty performing routines
Communication deficits
Self-injurious behavior
Eating difficulties
Academic challenges
And more…
Here’s What To Do Next
Click here for a FREE consultation with NESS Behavior Consulting.
Visit the website to learn more:
https://www.nessbehaviorconsulting.com/