Pseudonym of Child: Yvette
Diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder When Yvette first enrolled, she was not diagnosed for any additional needs. However, she didn’t engage with her peers. She avoided adults, crying and hiding under tables or retreating to corners of the classroom. When invited to join activities, Yvette resisted, preferring instead to do her own activities in isolation. She also lacked the self-help skills most children her age had already begun to develop, needing help with dressing, eating, and even using the toilet. Her behaviour was a concerned and the Educational Support Teacher suggested that she received additional support.
The Turning Point: Having Educational Support
The decision to provide Yvette with Educational Support marked a critical turning point. The program provided her with the individualised support she desperately needed. Yvette was given the space to grow in a nurturing environment designed to meet her unique needs. It was an easy journey, and there were still many challenges ahead, but it was a journey filled with hope and progress.
Over time, she became more comfortable in the classroom. Her outbursts reduced, and she started to engage with both her teachers and classmates in new ways.
Breaking Through: Emotional Growth and Social Development
Today, Yvette is seems like a different child. While still learning to navigate the world around her, she has made tremendous progress. She is more cheerful and eager to participate in class activities. The emotional outbursts that once defined her classroom experience are now rare. And when she does feel upset, she now seeks comfort from familiar adults, showing her growing trust in those around her.
Most heartwarming of all is Yvette’s increasing desire to connect with her peers. She no longer hides in the corners of the room and has started commenting on the world around her. One day, when a friend had a runny nose, she pointed toward the tissue box and said, “Nose!” She was beginning to engage in social exchanges—a major breakthrough for a child who had once isolated herself. She even announced when her friends arrived or left the classroom, showing an increasing awareness of her peers and a desire to be involved in their lives.
The Next Step: A Future Full of Possibilities
Her progress is nothing short of remarkable and it is a reminder that early intervention helps more than it hinders. Even though it is not the final solution and children have additional needs may never meet all the developmental milestones, Education Support provides them with an opportunity to learn, it levels the playing field and it removes barriers to learning.
Donate to “A Christmas Story” to help ensure that children like Yvette continue to receive the support they need to thrive. Your contribution directly impacts the lives of children who need the right environment to grow and succeed. Your gift helps provide the early intervention, individualised care, and educational support that make all the difference.
Special Gift for Donors: Donate $250 or more, and you’ll receive a customisable Little Olive Tree LEGO character—a special way to show your support for the children whose lives you’re helping change.
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