Elijah F, age 4
Photograph by Shawna Nodine (2022)
Elijah has a diagnosis of autism, and his mother says, “Elijah’s determination and bravery is uplifting. When you cannot communicate your wants and needs like others, you can imagine how frustrating it would be, but Elijah remains happy and content. We have learned so much from our child. We think he is going to teach many people that no matter what your diagnosis is, your story can be filled with happiness, too.”
With the help of occupational and speech therapy, Elijah has met many milestones, such as communicating using sign language, gestures, and words. He always meets his therapists with a positive attitude to succeed and works hard to be able to communicate with his family. His mother says she is proud of everything Elijah does, and he has taught her that love needs no words.
Elijah tiene un diagnóstico de autismo, y su madre dice: “La determinación y la valentía de Elijah son edificantes. Cuando no puedes comunicar tus deseos y necesidades como los demás, puedes imaginar lo frustrante que sería, pero Elijah sigue siendo feliz y contento. Hemos aprendido mucho de nuestro hijo. Creemos que va a enseñar a mucha gente que, sea cual sea tu diagnóstico, tu historia también puede estar llena de felicidad.”
Con la ayuda de la terapia ocupacional y del habla, Elijah ha alcanzado muchos hitos, como la comunicación mediante lenguaje de signos, gestos y palabras. Siempre se enfrenta a sus terapeutas con una actitud positiva para salir adelante y se esfuerza por poder comunicarse con su familia. Su madre dice que está orgullosa de todo lo que hace Elías, y que él le ha enseñado que el amor no necesita palabras.
Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.
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