Being able to leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a vacation with your family is something many parents take for granted. When you have a child on the autism spectrum, leaving home can be a challenge and, for many, the thought of a vacation is simply out of the question. At Canopy’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic, staff work with families and children, like Addie, to develop skills that increase the families’ ability to participate in what most would consider “routine” activities.
Addie struggled with following safety instructions. She frequently put herself in harm’s way by running from her parents, teachers, and other adults resulting in dangerous situations for all involved. The thought of taking Addie to an unfamiliar place and having her disappear into a busy street was too risky for her parents to consider taking the family on vacation.
At the age of four when Addie began therapy at Canopy’s Early Intervention Autism Clinic, teaching and reinforcing safety protocol was of utmost importance. Part of Addie’s therapy included implementing safety instructions with her family. Using direct instructions such as “walk with me” or “come here” helped Addie learn skills to keep her safe.
In early May, Addie’s family decided to take a trip to the beach. Following their vacation, Addie’s mother stated Addie followed all safety instructions and there were no frightening incidents or issues.
This was the first time the family had taken a vacation in more than four years. Addie’s mother was very thankful for Canopy’s dedication to helping Addie reach her goals and that the family was finally able to create cherished memories on a long-awaited vacation.
Today, there are more than 10,000 children living in Mississippi who are on the autism spectrum. Help make a difference in the life of a child, like Addie, by donating to Canopy Children’s Solutions today. Your donation, no matter how big or small, can make a difference. Please give.