Please help

There was an article in the Salt Lake Tribune today about possibly cutting funding that helps Utah's autistic children. You are welcome to read the article: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11495043

I would ask all of you to send an email to your representative asking him/her to not cut the funding. I can't imagine where Braedon and my family would be without services and schools. I've included my letter that I'm sending.

Early intervention is the key to success with a child with autism. I believe this. For all of you that know Braedon and have watched him over the last few years can see a difference. You can see what the help of speech therapists do. You can see what the help of a specialized school does. How can anyone want to take that away? It is beyond my comprehension. Please help.

I am the mother of a wonderful three year-old boy named Braedon. He is my first child. I also have a 15 month old son. I was thrilled to become a mother. As soon as I found out I was expecting, I began to dream of all the things I would do with my child. I dreamed of teaching him to play basketball, helping him with his homework, sending him to college, being there when he accomplishes all he has dreamed of, and watching him grow into a young man with ambition and excellence. I still believe and dream in those things. He just has a tougher road to get there. To achieve his full potential he requires a few extra things. He is autistic. I remember when I first heard those words and the crushing feeling that soon followed. Everything I had in my mind seemed to disappear. I cried and cried and felt my dreams of a "perfect" son were gone.

That was until I met some of the most amazing men and women. I worked with DDI Vantage, an early intervention non-profit group. A speech therapist came to my home a few times a month to work with Braedon. Her name is Sue and I still hold a very special place for her in my heart. She talked to me about the Carmen B. Pingree School and all it could offer my son. I immediately called and placed his name on the waiting list. He was number 148.




I learned very quickly that early intervention is the key to autism. Engaging and working with my son early could change everything. The more I learned about autism, the more I learned that Braedon can have everything in life that I had dreamed about and hoped for as a new mother.

He soon began school in a private preschool that my husband and I have paid for out-of-pocket. It hasn't been easy, but I can't imagine putting a price on the progress of my son. When he turned three he started preschool. There are wonderful teachers there, but they don't JUST specialize in autism.

Two weeks ago, I received a call from the Carmen B. Pingree School. It was so wonderful to hear that Braedon's number had come. We took Braedon up there last Tuesday for an evaluation. Later that afternoon, I received a call saying he was accepted into the school.

While I was there I had to keep myself from bursting into tears. They weren't tears from hearing my son had a developmental delay called autism. I was holding back tears of hope and joy. This school was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. I was blown away by the amount of attention to detail, the love and care that each child receives, and the amount of help.

After reading that funding to schools for the development of children with autism might be cut, my heart broke. Of course I am going to ask you not to do this. In fact, as a mother of a beautiful three year-old boy with autsim, I beg you not to cut funding. Each parent dreams of a better opportunity and chance for their child. These schools are helping to provide this. Not just for the child, but support for the family and the siblings.

Please keep all funding, and even increase it, for schools and programs that support special needs. I don't believe we can afford not to help our children because they are our future.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Kimberly Dominguez

7 Sunbeams!!

This past Sunday was Braedon's first day in Primary as a Sunbeam. I was a nervous mother all morning while we waited for Church (we have Church at 1:00). Finally the time came around to pack up and head off to be religious.

Sacrament meeting went just fine. Nothing exciting to report on. At the end of the meeting Dean took charge of Reilly and I headed to the Primary room with Braedon. I was both excited and really nervous for him. I am extremely protective of Braedon and am hopeful he is able to do things other children his age do.

When we got to the Primary room we both walked in, found where the Sunbeams sit (at the front) and took our seats. At this point, I can best describe what happened as something similar to the running of the bulls or a big sale at Wal Mart. To say my ward lacks organization would be a major understatement. After 30 minutes of trying to get everyone in their "new" seats we were ready to start.

Let me start by saying there are SEVEN Sunbeams. Seven three-year olds that are used to playing with toys, running around, and having a nice snack in the middle. They were not happy the routine had changed. The leaders started by having all the little Sunbeams say their names. Braedon can't say his name so I told everyone his name for him. He was VERY close to me the entire time.

The Sunbeams were a blur the entire opening excersises. There are two boys that, if I were left alone with them for 5 minutes, would behave themselves. As it is, they run around, won't sit down, and are loud. I'll give them a month to settle down before I step in and insist their mothers either sit with them or we kick them out of Primary.

We finally started to have a lesson and the bartering started. The three year-olds started to demand they be taken back to nursery. I sensed a mutiny was beginning and I feared the three-year olds could easily take these women. Not to be outdone, the leaders told the children that only babies go to the nursery and asked, "Are you babies?" It was a quick reply, "YES!"

Okay, lesson time had ended and it was time for singing time. By this time, Braedon had red cheeks and wanted to leave. He told me "all done" and "go away". He doesn't like chaos at all. It is very unnerving to him. He needs discipline and organization to function or he falls apart. Luckily, he loves music and found the singing mildly entertaining.

Once the singing was done it was time to head to class. Let me ask you a question... If you had seven three-year olds in their first day of Primary and headed to class, would you walk right by the nursery?!?!? They all ran to the nursery door and demanded entry! It was fun to pull them away, tears coming down their little faces. I felt like someone that just kicked an ice cream out of a childs hands in the summer and laughed.

Class was even harder than opening excersices. The teacher that was supposed to teach didn't show (note to self: if she doesn't show again talk to Primary President). The other teacher did her best, but has a very soft voice. The boys were jumping from the window (about 2 feet off the floor) and the girls were walking on chairs. Braedon was huddled in the corner with one of his toy planes I brought.

I want to pause in my story and mention Braedon does have a wild streak. He just doesn't show it in groups of people he doesn't know.

With 20 minutes left, the teacher ended the lesson and looked at me. WHAT??? I wasn't even supposed to be in there. Okay, I decided to sing every Primary song I could thing of that involved hand gestures. The children loved this. We sang and danced and made all sorts of noise. I was so freakin' tired.

Finally the time to go arrived. I made everyone hold hands with someone and opened the door. I didn't know children could run that fast. Off we went. Past the nursery, down the stairs, and straight to freedom.

Once I got home I felt like I'd been pushed down and run over. Is every Sunday to be like this? Will I have to be the not-so-nice mom that insists other mothers make their children behave? Will this be easier the more everyone does it? Is life really this chaotic? Am I too uptight?

I will let you know. For know the score is Sunbeams 1 Me 0