"DOLLARS 4 DEVIN"...
-Autism - Fund a Voice for Devin-
Hi everyone. My name is Devin Kong-Hao Liew. I am almost 5 years old and live with my mommy, daddy and little sister, Roisin. She is 3.5. She is my best friend & 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 have Moderate to Severe Autism. I forgot 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, how to respond to my name when called. I became overly reactive to textures of food I ate, clothing I wore and things like grass on my hands or feet. I LOVE to watch water move and touch 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, be squished and watch balls fall down tubes, then catch them and place them down the tube again and again. 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). 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 $30,000.00 just for me. I feel very special, that they love me so much.
Will you help mommy and daddy, help me? "Fund A Voice" today by clicking the DONATION button above.
Thankyou for helping me!
Love, Devin
*** (Note From Mommy...)*** Verbal Behavior Analysis - VBA is a form of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). ABA was developed by Dr. Lovaas, and then Mark Sundberg and James Partington developed VBA a few years later. I am using ABLLS (Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills), to track Devin's progress and he is making good progress in the areas of Imitation, Matching, Receptive Language, Manding, Eye Contact and Sound Production. Currently, insurance companies do not pay for alternative therapeutic interventions (ABA/ VBA/ Sensory Integration, AIT, some Speech Therapy, and DAN - Defeat Autism Now! protocols), and so the total expense lays on the shoulders of the parents. Dr. Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Society of America in Bethesda, MD, and was also one of the 1st founding fathers for the DAN! protocols.
1 in 150 children have Autism today. This number has got to stop growing and start going the other direction. As a Physical Therapist, working in the health field, and as a mommy of a son with Autism, I am dedicated to not only helping my son, but all of the children with Autism. It is my vision and passion to open an Autism Therapeutic Clinic in 5-10 years, yet my clinic will accept Medicaid payment for Sensory Integration, VBA treatments, Social Skill Training, Temperment Shaping through ABA, Potty Training and ADL skill training. This will financially help all of the families, while their children receive quality, tailored services for Autism. This will be a treatment center only...and not a school.Thankyou for helping my son!!!
