Our Intervention Team, Part 2

Each child with autism is different and, though most have language difficulties, the disorder is manifested behaviorally in various ways. Ton was a physically active child, not hyperactive but he liked climbing on tables and standing on chairs. He would zoom through the house without concern for his safety, many times bumping his body on walls. Sometimes during tantrums he would lie on the floor and flail his arms and body around, hitting his head on the concrete.

He did "cute" things too. We actually thought they were signs he was a genius (we still believe he is) before we knew they were signs that he was autistic. He liked lining up toys, segregating them into categories or by pattern sequences. He memorized the alphabet and numbers even before he could answer yes/no questions. He was also fixated with animals, able to identify even those that we adults may not be familiar with.

Lining up toys

In school, there was never an issue about academics. He was sometimes a faster learner than the typical kids- never failing tests and excellent at paperwork. But his behavior was a hurdle that prevented him from fully benefiting from the school experience. This was why our first dev. ped. recommended that Ton go through Occupational Therapy (OT) twice a week.

He loved animals so much!

Our first OT was Teacher Rhodz (mentioned in Part 1). She was a sweet and caring therapist but no matter how hard she tried, Ton's behavior improved little. 

After a year with Teacher Rhodz, we found another OT in Makati who was very hardworking and concerned about Ton's wellbeing but was too "raw" to be effective. This one was just a few years out of college. She used her techniques without tweaking them to suit the child. To give her credit, though, she helped Ton with school skills (Ton used to hate holding a pencil). She also got him to sit longer through table tasks. 

A year and a half after our diagnosis, we began to see renowned dev. ped. Dr. Alexis Reyes. She noticed Ton's behavior- lack of focus, fidgety, no self-regulation. She said, "you should look for another OT. You should try to get Teacher Lady." Ahh, THE Teacher Lady. 

THE Teacher Lady
(Source: www.autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com)

I've heard of Lady Suarez long before she was mentioned by Dr. Reyes. Our first dev. ped. recommended her but the wait to get a slot with Teacher Lady is just as long as with Dr. Reyes. You need a miracle to get a slot with either; and because we already got lucky with Dr. Reyes, there was no way we could even hope for a chance with Teacher Lady. But God has his ways :)

When we started seeing Teacher Jeri (Ton's speech therapist) in St Luke's QC on a "last-minute replacement" basis, she started saying that Ton needs better OT intervention and recommended some of the good OTs in St. Luke's, including Teacher Lady. I said to Jeri, "that's impossible! I asked the receptionists how long the wait was for a slot with Lady and they said not to hope anymore."  Jeri said, "I'll talk to her." This is why I owe Jeri so much.

A few weeks after my talk with Jeri, the St. Luke's receptionist said that Teacher Lady can schedule an evaluation for Ton. No therapy slot, just an evaluation (pretty much how we started with Teacher Jeri). Of course I jumped on the chance even if it would be our only one. But it was not. 

We eventually got a "last-minute replacement" arrangement with her as well, traveling to where there was an absent patient- St. Luke's QC or Therapy Works in Paranaque. Like with Jeri, we forgot everything else and just hopped in our car and drove. These were the toughest but the best sacrifices we made. 

People would say, "why Quezon City, it's so far?" or "ha?! P1500 for a special session in St. Luke's just to see her?!" (The rate was different for our arrangement because Ton was not a regular patient so he had to pay the "evaluation rate" all the time.) Oh, if they only knew Lady.

Teacher Lady is the "autistic whisperer." When Ton comes from a therapy session with her, he improves dramatically for two reasons- Lady can "read" the children by just observing them. She looks for reasons behind the behavior- the triggers. Then she assesses if there are sensorial causes for the behavior. She addresses those causes and the behavior improves; not immediately, but through time and through the second reason- she gets the parents involved.

When Ton first saw Teacher Lady, she would ask me to sit through the whole session. I would observe them at work. I would ask questions while they did. She would analyze the concerns and help me address them on my own. She would often say, "look mommy. When he does this... it's because... so, this is what you should do." Each time, I learned. Each time, I left the session so enriched and enlightened, and armed with a few weeks' worth of strategies to help my son. He was not the only one being cured, I was getting better too.

It's been two years since we started our "last-minute replacement" deal with Teacher Lady and, unfortunately, that's still the arrangement we have. But imagine if we could see her weekly! Imagine if we could be helped like that on a regular basis! But we can't. There are many other kids she wants to help with different needs and different concerns. And it is not right for us to feel bad about what we have now. It's actually a big blessing to be just given an hour every two months. 

In Thinkids QC, Teacher Lady guides a junior OT named Joan Go on how to help Ton. Pretty much in the same mold as Lady, Joan has that sensitive eye that Lady possesses. (I'm sure in a few years, the wait to see Joan will be just as long as Lady's.) Like Lady, she analyzes and thinks the behavior through before trying to fix it. More than anything, it's the genuine concern that cannot be replaced. Ton now sees Joan twice a week. 

Whenever I meet other parents of children with autism and we get to talking about therapists, I learn that many of them choose the cheapest ones or the nearest ones. I want to tell them "No!" but I just tell our story. They may think that we're wasting time (by traveling so far) and money (by spending a bit more) by being committed to these therapists. Jeri, Lady and Joan have shown their commitment to seeing Ton get better. They have gone beyond usual therapy protocol and accommodated my calls, emails, and texts, even during off-hours. They care for my son sincerely.  My commitment to them doesn't even come close to what they really deserve.  Thank you very much, ladies!

(to be continued...)

A big hug for his Thinkids therapists!

Therapeutic intervention for kids, inc (THINKids)
5 Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City
+639277234769

Therapy Works
726-D Quirino Ave., Paranaque City 
632-8530121