Early Childhood Services Make The World Go Round – By Karen L.

By the time my son was 8 months old, I wondered seriously about his development, quite a lot. By the time he was 12 months old, there were significant delays that other people saw too. By the time he was 14 months, he was diagnosed with Autism. It was an early diagnosis that I was both thankful for and petrified by. However, once there was a name for his behaviors and delays, I could work towards learning and treating them.  

But I had no support system. I was alone. I read and read and read. Only in hindsight, I see that the Early Childhood Education and Care services in this county would become my support system. Those therapists are on this journey with me! These people are my son's world. My world. These services are our community. Our home. They make up our hours, our days, our weeks. They are the best of us. The selfless, caring souls who quietly drive us through our worst of times. They give us hope, they hold our hand, and they move us all forward, towards understanding and bettering ourselves and others.  

Many parents are not as lucky as me. Some don't want a diagnosis or don't learn soon enough about their children's needs. I want to change that. I want to advocate for my son every day! I want to promote the services this community offers and find news ones, too. I want to make access to Early Childhood education easy, affordable, inclusive and most of all, familiar to everyone.  

Too many in our community do not understand the needs of special needs children. It shouldn't be that way. I want to change that. I want the community to be equipped and ready for the needs of everyone in it.