A loving leap forward
A PROGRAM for families of children with autism has been described as a “one-stop wonder” by a Townsville couple after their son was able to pronounce the three words “every parent wants to hear”.
AEIOU Foundation is a specialist provider of early intervention for children with autism, employing a team of therapists and educators who work together to support the individual needs and goals of a child.
The foundation believes its approach of combining evidence-based therapy with naturalistic teaching in a daycare setting worked wonders for children.
Gemma and Lee Haskings’ son Ethan, 4, has been assisted by AEIOU and claimed it had changed their lives.
“Ethan was non-verbal, having regular tantrums, and developing much more slowly compared to his peers – it was agonising to watch and especially frustrating for him,” Mrs Haskings said.
“Lee and I felt like the only people in the entire world who could understand Ethan.
“We had our own way of communicating with him, but we knew it wasn’t enough. We needed help.
“We needed speech pathologists, occupational therapists, behaviour therapists and on top of that, daycare.”
She said after Ethan joined the program, they noticed a huge improvement.
“Ethan can now say the words every parent wants to hear: ‘I love you’,” she said.
“AEIOU has been like one-stop wonder for us. a
“Ethan began his journey in January, and we are so proud of the progress he has made with speech and independent living skills. To hear those three little words ‘I love you’ and watch Ethan playing and having conversations with his brother is further from where we thought we’d be.
“I don’t feel worried about the future anymore.”
AEIOU Foundation is hosting a series of open days this week for local parents and carers to learn about autism-specific early intervention therapy and care for children aged 2-6.
“There will be a centre tour, a chance to meet the team and access to a behaviour-focused workshop sharing practical tips and strategies,” Mr Smith said.
“We have been overwhelmed by the response to open days already, with some centres planning follow-up events; it really highlights the demand that exists for autismspecific early intervention.”
>>For more information on the open days visit the AEIOU Foundation’s
website.