Liam was diagnosed with Level 3 Autism at twenty two months old, which is very early for a diagnoses. This allowed Liam to receive early intervention in home until the age of three, and transition into school aged therapies when he began kindergarten.

Liam excelled in physical and gross motor activities, but he lacked fine motor skills and speech. Liam is nine and a half now and a student at The Beyond Learning Center (formerly Cantalician Center for Learning). He has gone from being considered non-verbal to minimally verbal, and is able to request food, drinks, and certain desired items and activities.

Thanks to UPD, Liam is able to visit the dentist more often, in order to make his trips less scary and create a good oral health routine. The staff at UPD recognize the importance of familiarity and structure when it comes to having a child on the spectrum, and they are always accommodating when Liam visits. Every time Liam visits, he goes to the same room and sees the same hygienist. I have never had to worry that there would be a lack of patience or understanding with my son.

Autism is a diverse disorder, in which every person has their own place on the spectrum. It can be beautiful and nerve racking, simultaneously and separately. Having a place like UPD to make our experience more enjoyable is a gift special needs families are not often granted.

I couldn’t be more grateful for them and more proud of my son for his hard work.