Hi everyone. My name is Devin Kong-Hao Liew. I am almost 7 years old and live with my mommy, daddy and little sister, Roisin, who is 5.5. She helps me learn to play with her. I am one of the many faces you may see with Classical Autism. Mommy tells me I used to talk until I was 22 months old, and then I "disappeared". The many doctors told my mommy that I had Moderate to Severe Autism.

I have forgotten how to use my voice to communicate. I work daily on verbal acquisition skills, communication skills (receptive, expressive, syntax, echoic, & motor imitation skills) and socially how to play with others and lastly, and how to respond to my name when called.

I have become extremely sensitive to textures of food I eat, clothing I wear and things like grass on my hands or feet. I LOVE to water. Watching it and touching it. I LOVE to watch ceiling fans spin, line trains up and car wheels roll. I like to be squeezed and go to dark, corners of the room. It feels safe there. I LOVE to swing, and watch balls fall down tubes, only to put the balls back in the tubes again and again. But most importantly, I love things placed in the same spot I place them. They have an order in which they belong.

I like to click lights on and off, and to open and close doors. I like the sound different types of wooden doors and hinges make when they move. Did you know that Oak sounds different from Pine? I don't like haircuts, nail clippings, getting my nose wiped and going to the doctor for blood draws. I don't like the dentist looking in my mouth. My mommy and I work at this so I am not so scared. But BOY...she has a time soothing me while I go to these places. I am glad she is my mommy. I don't know how to tell her I love her with words yet, but I now can show her with hugs, kisses and smiles.

I use other ways to communicate more that words just now, but I have started to learn how to get what I want by using Sign Language (ASL), and Mommy has hired a VBA Consultant. She helped her put my home working program together. Mommy has other grown-up friends come to the house to play with me every day. They try to help me understand what things are, what they are called, and how to ask for them with sign language and/ or with my voice for 2 hours everyday. I just know it is fun...most of the time. Sometimes I get tired and don't want to play, but mommy tickles me, and makes me laugh. So I want to play again. I am getting good at this "play stuff" and want to play everyday. Last year mommy and daddy spent $30,000 just for me. I feel very special, that they love me so much.

Will you help mommy and daddy, help me, and click the ‘Donate’ button on the Welcome page and thank you so much for helping me!

 

Love,

Devin 

Note From Mommy