One of the most important parts of a child living with autism spectrum disorder is early intervention.
Here in Western New York, The Summit Center is one of the few remaining early intervention programs available. One of the families in the program is the Christopher Family. Their son, Cooper, has been in the program since his diagnosis at just under two years old.
“Cooper is just such a joy to be around,” Cooper’s mom, Molly, said. “He’s a funny guy. He’s so smart. And he’s got such a big personality.”
Now five years old, Cooper has developed a love for music and geography. He can name all 50 states, their capitals, and many countries around the world. This transformation in Cooper is remarkable compared to where he was before his diagnosis.
“We started noticing that he didn’t have any words. He wasn’t making eye contact with us the way our daughter did or any of the other kids that we interacted with,” Christopher said.
In 2022, the CDC reported that an estimated one in 54 children in the United States were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The statistics show a significant disparity, as boys like Cooper are four times more likely to receive this diagnosis than girls. Recognizing the importance of early intervention, Cooper immediately began the program, which included speech therapy, as well as social and play skills training.
“Early intervention is critical,” Early Intervention Program Coordinator Stacey Chambers said. “If students have the opportunities to begin instruction in early intervention before they go to preschool, that can impact the placements that are available to him in preschool, which could then in turn impact the placements that are available for them in kindergarten.”
Understanding the signs of autism spectrum disorder can help parents get a head start on any potential diagnosis. Some of those signs include not responding to their name, avoiding eye contact, exhibiting repetitive movements, and having limited speech. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children aged 18 to 24 months undergo autism screenings, regardless of whether they display any signs. This proactive approach can significantly influence a child’s developmental trajectory.
“We find that the more parent involvement we can have with these very young learners, the more progress we’re able to see across their development,” Chambers said.
Although autism is often viewed negatively, Christopher believes, through her experiences with Cooper, that it is nothing harmful. For her family, the most rewarding aspect of this journey is celebrating each step of development that Cooper achieves.
“It’s just the little things that you have to focus on,” Christopher said. “What your wins are and focusing on meeting them where they are. There’s still so many opportunities, and they still have a long way to go, and there’s still so much to learn and experience with them.”
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