A FULL LIFE of learning, choice, dignity, and happiness
When Jack was only a few months old, his parents were alarmed about his development. Their concerns grew as he continued to miss developmental milestones. His delays were so significant that the physician who made the diagnosis was able to do so when he was just 16 months old— the youngest child she’d ever diagnosed with autism.
His parents enrolled Jack in PCDI’s Early Intervention program when he was 26 months old. Jack gained the expertise he needed to learn, and his parents gained the shoulder-to-shoulder support they needed to extend his learning through ongoing parent training.
“PCDI doesn’t just do it for us,” Jack's mom, Laura says. “They train parents and motivate us to overcome obstacles on our own. They transfer the power, so to speak, so we can be more independent. I mean if it weren’t for PCDI how could we, as parents, do the things we do for Jack?“
This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study estimating over a quarter of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder meet the criteria for “profound autism." Individuals facing the most disabling challenges of autism have severe intellectual disabilities, are nonverbal or have limited use of language, and may suffer from behavior patterns that interfere with their safety and well-being.
The extensive support needed by children and adults with profound autism is not met by standards of care for the broader spectrum.
People within the ASD community have higher rates of medical complexities and mental health disorders. Jack has struggled with both.
Jack's behavioral challenges intensified as he grew older, leading to aggression and life-threatening self-injury. He required round-the-clock expert intervention. PCDI worked closely with his family to increase parent-training, providing intensive support beyond the school day to help his parents maintain his health and well-being.
Jack’s family never gave up. Neither did PCDI.
This winter Jack will join four housemates at PCDI’s newest community-based group home. For individuals like Jack, who are profoundly impacted by autism, exceptional, science-based, compassion-driven support is life-saving.
We have a shared responsibility to lift up those with disabilities. Public funding alone is insufficient. Your individual contributions come together to fill the gaps— in funding, in research, in treatment options, in perseverance.
Together we are able to give individuals with autism a life full of learning, choice, dignity, and happiness.
