As a little jokester at heart, Jesse loves doing things the “wrong” way when someone’s watching just to get a laugh! He enjoys making animals and sea creatures out of Play-Doh, adding new animals to his communication device and taking pictures of his creations. He is happiest when he gets to visit the Georgia Aquarium and would absolutely be a shark, octopus, or whale if he could.
Jesse is nonverbal and relies on a speech device to communicate his needs, which can be challenging at times. His diagnosis of Autism makes him highly sensitive to the taste and textures of foods, preferring only a small range of specific foods and drinks. Because of this, even giving him medication requires careful planning, as it must be completely undetectable. He finds comfort in familiar routines and has learned to communicate if something hurts or if he doesn’t like something. Jesse is also very curious and quick to figure things out, so extra precautions like locks, gates, and layered clothing are needed to keep him safe and prevent access to restricted areas.
Some exciting moments for Jesse include being added to his school’s Hall of Fame for his exceptional use of his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device, having his artwork showcased in an art show downtown, and being featured on social media by the company that makes his AAC device. Jesse has taught his whole family the value of patience and shows them every day the joy that comes from being deeply connected to what you love and your passions.