How did you become interested in working with children with autism?
It has always been a large part of my life and at a young age I knew
my passion was to integrate my life with research, training, and therapy, to
benefit others. I have been fortunate enough to accomplish this dream through
my deep involvement in educating others about PRT.
In what ways do you educate others?
I travel all over the world, most recently Greece, and hold PRT
trainings. The reward of invoking a sense of achievable progress in children
with autism to teachers and parents has been my main prerogative. Not only do I
give speeches and conduct trainings, but I also have the opportunity to work
one on one with children.
Tell us about some of your experiences.
One of my most memorable experiences was hearing the first word of a
three-year-old boy with autism. His mother and teachers had little guidance
before starting services with us and had reached a point of exhaustion, defeat, and emotional stress beyond any other family I had witnessed. After two weeks
of therapy at school and at home, involving working with teachers and family,
the child spoke his first word. Seeing a mother’s reaction of tears of joy was
amazing and all of the hard work we had put in to start his therapy had paid
off. We knew it was only the beginning and there was a long road ahead of us,
however, hearing him request an item for the first time and speak is
unforgettable. He now speaks in sentences, has made many friends at school, and
is continuing to make astounding progress every day.
What is the best advice you can give parents?
It is vital for parents to become deeply immersed in their child’s
therapy. Targeting all pivotal areas is key in order to achieve success. Most
importantly, do not give up!
