Brielle’s early years began like many others. She happily engaged with her family and spoke a few words like yes, no, mommy, daddy, hi and bye. But shortly before her third birthday, everything changed. Brielle stopped talking, making eye contact and engaging with those around her. “It seemed like she was suddenly disconnected from everything around her. She could be sitting or standing right next to us but seemed far away,” explains her mother, Brandi.
The inability to communicate became a source of frustration for Brielle, leading to intense fits, prolonged crying, and greater difficulty in everyday life for her family. Brandi and her husband had to guess what Brielle needed, often struggling to decode her emotions. When they welcomed twins into the family, Brielle showed no interest in them, and at the park, she played alone, disconnected from other children.
Determined to find help, Brandi enrolled Brielle in speech therapy, but after six months, there was little progress. A diagnosis of autism soon followed, and Brandi knew that her daughter’s daycare was no longer the right environment.
Finding the Right Fit
Brandi began her search for a preschool that could provide early intervention for Brielle, and when she found Connections, she knew it was the perfect match. “Melissa Carman walked me through each step needed to enroll. She made it easy for me to get everything done and was always very responsive to my emails and questions,” Brandi recalls. “It was a huge relief during a difficult time in life.”
Small Steps Lead to Big Progress
From the very beginning, the team at Connections was unphased by Brielle’s outbursts or lack of communication. They simply got to work, using tools and strategies to help her make progress. Within the first week, her teachers sent home a core board, a visual tool with pictures that Brielle could point to in order to express her needs. “She used it immediately, and she quickly realized that she could get what she wanted by using it. That’s when we really started seeing progress — in communication and behavior because she could express herself,” says Brandi.
Now in her second year at Connections, Brielle is thriving. She plays with her peers at school and enjoys interacting with her family, even sneaking into her twin siblings' room at night to continue their games. “I’ll hear Brielle in the twins’ room talking with them and planning a way to get around bedtime. That’s so far away from where she was a year and a half ago. She has climbed a lot of mountains,” Brandi proudly shares.
Expanding Her Palate
Brielle’s progress isn’t limited to communication and social interaction. Mealtimes have also transformed. Once a picky eater, Brielle now enjoys a wide range of healthy foods, thanks to the nutrition classes at Connections. “She eats whole apples, oranges, celery, berries and tomatoes — and I don’t even eat some of these foods, so I know she’s learning this at school,” says Brandi.
Academic Strengths Shine
As a Pre-K student, Brielle has shown remarkable academic abilities already. Her teachers have tapped into her strong intellect, helping her excel in areas like math. “She can add sets like 4 + 4, 8 + 8, and beyond. We can ask her what 16 + 16 is, and she’ll tell us 32,” Brandi shares. Brielle is also identifying words in books and counting with dice, showing great potential to succeed academically.
“Any little thing with her is always a big thing. We know where she was at one point and how different she is now. Her attitude is big, and her heart is even bigger. I’m so grateful that she’s at Connections.” — Brandi, Brielle's Mom
Water Safety Success
Brielle’s love for water has always been apparent, but it was also a source of concern for her parents. Brandi says, “It’s always been a fear of mine because I hear about kids drowning and know that Brielle doesn’t understand the magnitude of what can happen. Her dad and I have worked with her in the pool trying to teach her to stay safe, and the swim lessons at Connections have helped so much.”
According to Connections swim instructor Chris Sikes, “When Brielle started our lessons, she wouldn’t put her face in the water, and that made it hard to keep her body horizontal in the water in order to float. But she has overcome that fear and is really making progress. She’s learning to kick with her legs and pull with her arms to get herself to the wall. Those are some of the first essential steps toward water safety.”
Looking Ahead
While Brielle’s family is thrilled with her progress, they’re even more excited for what’s to come. “Any little thing with her is always a big thing. We know where she was at one point and how different she is now. Her attitude is big, and her heart is even bigger,” Brandi reflects. “I’m so grateful that she’s at Connections.”
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