Our experience with Steps was 29 years ago in 1995. Back then, the agency was known as Toddler Learning Center (TLC). My son, Esteban, was referred to TLC around his second birthday due to development delays, most significantly his being non-verbal. TLC was invaluable in helping us understand Esteban’s needs and helped us find ways to communicate. TLC discovered that he had no hearing in one ear, which luckily was fixed after surgery. However, he remained non-verbal. At that time, TLC taught sign language to all children to assist in communication. With Esteban and us learning sign language we were able to give him a way to communicate. This tool helped reduce the frustration we all experienced when we were not able to understand what Esteban wanted or needed. For Esteban, it helped to decrease his anger and frustration with no one understanding him. We were also able to introduce other means of communication, such as picture boards.
TLC was instrumental in assisting us in transitioning Esteban to the school district’s special education preschool program in 1996 and in establishing his first IEP.
Diagnostic methods in the mid-1990s were much different than they are now, as well as understanding of how autism presents. While Esteban did not receive a formal diagnosis while he was at TLC, they did provide us with invaluable guidance in getting him into specialty care and education. While it took until he was four to be diagnosed with severe oral motor apraxia and then until he was 16 to be diagnosed with autism, TLC helped give us a good foundation for moving forward. Beyond helping us with Esteban, TLC also provided guidance and information I needed for my six-year-old who had undiagnosed medical issues and was presenting with severe developmental delays. Today, Esteban is a healthy 31-year-old with normal communication skills and has held a job for over 11 years. No matter how much time has passed though, my family will always be grateful for the help that TLC gave us so many years ago.
