Living With Autism...

Prior to the newly formed Collaborative Training Classroom at Children's Village - a program in a classroom setting geared toward children with significant social, emotional, and communicative delays in order to prepare them for school - Adriel spent his days crying, yelling, screaming and banging his hands on tables, floors, walls and even his parents. "Living with autism is so difficult, so isolating, for him and us," says his father, David. "Before this program, we had no way of knowing why he was upset or what he needed. He just couldn't communicate with us in the same way our healthy children could," he says.

Through Early Intervention and the Collaborative Training Classroom at Children's Village, Adriel has learned to communicate through picture exchange. When he wants something to eat or drink, he's able to hand his parents a card to let them know what he needs. He understands when his parents ask him to do something like lie down to have his diaper changed.

"I didn't know anything about autism," says Rocio. "I thought with love and a committed family, it would eventually go away, like a fever." Today, Rocio and David, along with their other children, Estephania, 16, and Andrea, 6, are so grateful for the opportunities Children's Village provides them.

"They give us parent support through the Parent to Parent program, professional help to solve challenges we continue to face, and dentistry for all three kids, so we can make one stop instead of taking Adriel to multiple places in town," Rocio says.

David's concern is for his whole family, and he expresses the difference Children's Village has made. "Rocio cries less. Our days are still very difficult. Sometimes, Adriel just stares into space, out a window or at a wall when we try to get his attention. But it's better. We all have more hope," David says.

David and Rocio say they are grateful for the medical and dental support but also for the family support the Village gives them, like hosting family nights with other parents who have children with special needs. "The staff listens to our concerns. They offer us options. They give us support when we need it."

Adriel is the first child to graduate from the Collaborative Training Classroom* and has now successfully transitioned to a full-day program within the Yakima School District.

*The Collaborative Training Classroom is made up of students from Central Washington University, Children's Village educators and therapists, ESD-105 professionals and teachers from local school districts. This classroom is currently funded through The Memorial Foundation in partnership with the Foundation for Early Learning Yakima Children's Fund.