Impact Stories

A Bright Future: Declan’s Journey

Behavioral | Communication | Motor | Sensory

When Declan was between 18 and 20 months old, he began showing stereotypical signs of autism: He was toe-walking, made no eye contact, and had words, then didn’t. His mother, Molly, the Coordinator of Youth Services at the Pollard Library in Lowell, was already familiar with Early Intervention Services. Therapists from Partners in Child Development would come into the library for screenings and informational sessions. Based on her understanding of child development from her role as a children’s librarian and having family members on the spectrum, Molly recognized early signs of autism in Declan.

Early Intervention Services

Early Intervention Services started from the moment he was screened, with therapists coming to their home, working with Declan even before an official diagnosis was made. In the beginning, services were provided in the home with floor time but soon led to music therapy and the Food Fun Group at the school. The Food Fun Group focused on how to integrate and introduce new foods. Given the texture issues and food allergies Declan had, these ideas were vital for at-home techniques. Given Declan’s difficulty connecting with people, he received Applied Behavior Analysis therapy which breaks down a task into small steps. All of these Early Intervention Services helped develop Declan’s receptive language along with structure and redirection skills for achieving new tasks.

Benefits to Child and Family

Attending these groups two to three times a week helped Declan with his foundational skills and no less importantly, the sessions provided a space for parents to share their experiences, talking about how their child’s needs affected not only the child but everyone in the household. Declan’s parents, Molly and Tim, remember what resonated the most was how the staff really listened to their family. Therapists offered helpful advice and suggestions, while never making the family feel “less than” if they didn’t know something. Most importantly, the staff made the family feel part of one team, all working towards the best for Declan, with constant communication and notes to refer to after every visit.