When Adelen was born, her parents and two older brothers were delighted to welcome a little girl to complete their family. But as she grew, they found it difficult to connect with her. Adelen did not want to be around people.
She didn’t want to be hugged or touched, didn’t want to play with her brothers and didn’t even want to be in the same room as the family dog. “She was very standoffish and even antisocial,” recalls her dad, Charles. “If someone sat beside her in the car or elsewhere, she would yell, kick and push to get the person away and be by herself. At home, she wanted to stay in her room alone.”
Adelen was nonverbal and became extremely frustrated when others did not understand what she needed. Her mom, Valeria, says, “When Adelen felt frustrated, she would shut down — physically and mentally. It made life really hard for our family.”
Many of her behaviors were familiar to her family because one of her older brothers, Adrian, had already been diagnosed with autism. Adelen’s parents took her for evaluation, and as they anticipated, she was diagnosed with autism. They had to accept that their visions of a joyful, engaged little girl brightening their family would not come as naturally as they had hoped.
Finding the Right School: Commitment Beyond Convenience
Because Adelen’s brother also has autism, her parents were already familiar with the educational options. Adrian had struggled at four different schools, including a specialty school for children with autism, before they found Connections — where he has thrived. The campus location is not convenient for the family; in fact, they drive 40-60 minutes each way so that their son can attend Connections. “It’s worth it to us because of how amazing everyone is at Connections and how well Adrian has done,” says Charles.
Adelen began attending Connections in the early intervention preschool program at the age of three, and improvement came quickly. “We started seeing progress within the first 60-90 days. She stopped trying to isolate all the time and started socializing. She began to mimic the sounds her teachers made and became open to trying new activities,” recalls her dad. “She developed an interest in books and started looking intently at the pages.”
Building Trust and Unleashing Potential
Adelen’s first teacher at Connections, Ms. Kristen, witnessed firsthand the remarkable changes in her student. “When Adelen started school, it took a while for her to build a relationship with us and trust us,” Ms. Kristen explains. “Once she became familiar with the staff, the school environment and the classroom, she began to open up and show us how remarkable she is.”
Ms. Kristen recognized that change was difficult for Adelen, a common characteristic of autism. To help Adelen feel more comfortable, Ms. Kristen established a clear routine, created a visual schedule and provided cues before transitions to help Adelen prepare mentally. Additionally, she introduced a token board with which Adelen could choose rewards to work toward. “Adelen looks for praise and wants you to be proud of her. She will cheer for herself right alongside you by shouting ‘woo hoo’ at a job well done,” says Ms. Kristen.
Initially shy at school, Adelen would only communicate verbally when highly motivated or extremely frustrated. However, as she became more comfortable, her communication skills grew. “Now Adelen addresses her favorite staff by name, answers questions verbally, cheers on her friends, and even tells us all about her favorite character and doll she carries around: Bluey,” says Ms. Kristen. “She first demonstrated her emerging ability to read and spell by writing the names of all the characters from the Bluey show.”
By the end of her second year at Connections, Adelen had become a “teacher’s helper,” assisting her classmates with tasks like checking their schedules and lining up. She had also developed a protective instinct toward her brother, Adrian, always ensuring he was having a good day when they spotted each other in the hallways or common areas.
New Teacher, New Progress
As Adelen began Kindergarten this year, she transitioned to Ms. Maria’s classroom. While a change like this can be difficult for many students with autism, Adelen adapted seamlessly. Her dad says, “She transitioned flawlessly. When we went to orientation, she walked right in and was happy as can be.”
Adelen’s improvements are evident not only at school but also at home. She now loves interacting with her brothers, playing hide and seek, tickle, and many other games with them. “Adelen and her brothers are attached at the hip at home,” says Charles.
She is a vibrant girl who enjoys dancing to special lights and music at home, building forts with cushions and talking — a lot, according to her dad — with friends and family. Adelen is now putting sentences together, frequently greeting her parents with a warm phrase like, “Hi Mommy! I love you!” Or “Hi Daddy! I’m ready to go!” She follows multi-step directions with ease and is more cooperative with family routines, like bathtime or bedtime. “Adelen has done a 180-degree turn at Connections. Everybody at that school does an amazing job,” says Charles.
Her mom says, “Adelen is a social butterfly now and is a very happy, loving person. She’s also very creative. She’ll see a picture of an object and then draw the same image by hand. She enjoys drawing Bluey, and her drawings are very impressive!”
“Adelen has done a 180-degree turn at Connections. Everybody at that school does an amazing job." — Charles, Adelen's Dad
Beyond Traditional Academics: Comprehensive Support
Adelen’s family appreciates the comprehensive approach Connections takes to learning. They are especially grateful for the school’s adaptive swim program. “We have a pool at home, and my number one rule has been — the kids must learn to be in the pool. I teach them at home but love that the school works on this with the students,” Charles says. “Adelen loves to swim and has learned important safety skills like how to surface in the water and get to the pool’s edge.”
Her family also values Connections’ nutrition classes, which are specifically designed to help students with autism expand their diets to include a variety of healthy foods. “Adelen has always been a picky eater, but we’re starting to see her try new foods that she’s learned about at school,” says Valeria.
"Adelen is a social butterfly now and is a very happy, loving person. She’s also very creative. She’ll see a picture of an object and then draw the same image by hand." — Valeria, Adelen's Mom
Looking Forward: Hopes and Dreams for Adelen
After a little more than two years at Connections, Adelen is a different person, and her family is filled with hope for her future. “A few years ago, my wife and I had an opportunity to move out of state for a growth opportunity. But we stayed here solely because of Connections and the way Adelen and Adrian do so well there,” says Charles.
Ms. Kristen adds, “Adelen is not afraid of a challenge and is extremely determined. When she sets her mind to something, she’ll attempt different ways to conquer it, even if it’s difficult. She is full of spunk and personality and has so much potential.”
Adelen’s family envisions a future where Adelen leads a fulfilled life, unencumbered by the challenges of autism. They hope to see her pursue higher education, form meaningful relationships and achieve her dreams. Her mom sees Adelen potentially working with animals in the future. “She is so loving and caring with animals. I can see her becoming a veterinarian or working in another role where she cares for animals,” says Valeria.
Her dad adds, “We want her to have a fulfilled life as her future moves forward and not be held back by anything. She is more than capable of doing so many things. We are so grateful for Connections and the work they do.”
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