Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Before
“Just before his 4th birthday Archie…was almost entirely non-verbal”
After
“After almost 9 months on the tag he has reached a word count certainly over 100. . . It is so emotionally rewarding to hear him say “Mummy” and “Daddy” after being silent for over 4 years. . . there is no doubt that the Gorilla Tag has changed our son’s life – and ours . . ”
Archie- Age 4
“Our son started on the Gorilla Tag in March this year, just before his 4th Birthday. At that time he was almost entirely non-verbal….
After almost 9 months on the tag he has reached a word count certainly over 100, and will recite whole sentences from his favourite TV shows. Every day he vocalises at least one new word, often pointing simultaneously at what he is naming. For 2 years he would play silently with his Thomas trains. He now says the name of each one of them out loud….
For us there is no doubt that the Gorilla Tag has changed our son’s life – and ours. It is so emotionally rewarding to hear him say “Mummy” and “Daddy” after being silent for over 4 years.”
Jordan- Age 13
Before
“My son was given a diagnosis of ASD aged 3.”
After
“he has made good academic and social gains. He is more mature and confident….He has made social gains too. . . I have not thought of my son as autistic for several years now”
“My son was given a diagnosis of ASD aged 3. He started school aged 4 in a special unit within a mainstream school. After 3 years he successfully left here to join a mainstream class in his local school.
In September 2009 we began the Edutherapy program which coincided with the new school move. In the last 4 years of primary school my son made educational gains with improved reading and writing. His numeracy skills were age appropriate, apart from when it came to reading problems…. He could write quickly and was a good speller, but comprehension was very poor and he could not generate a piece of writing at all without support.
In the summer of 2013 we flew to see Jane for educational testing. This was a revelation to me. My son underwent tests I had never seen or been offered before and this produced a profile of a child with severe language difficulties, which originated not with speech but with hearing. He wasn’t deaf, but his ears weren’t processing in a balanced way.
In the 3 years he has been at secondary school he has made good academic and social gains. He is more mature and confident….He has made social gains too, coming in from the fringes to now enjoying PE and games. He plays football daily and tries to be part of the pack. He wants to be like everyone else and craves the same clothes and gadgets…
I have not thought of my son as autistic for several years now and I never use the label. When we meet new people I say he has speech difficulties and this is sufficient. It is certainly not a label I want him to carry through life.”
Theo – Age 7
Before
“My son was diagnosed with ‘atypical autism’ at the age of five. . . his behaviour was already hyperactive and very disruptive meaning that he was only allowed to attend for one hour a day, if I went with him!”
After
“That was 10 years ago and today, the story could not be more different. .the results of this programme in our son’s case have been nothing short of amazing. .Now he is in a sixth form college and fits well into his class.”
“My son was diagnosed with “atypical autism” at the age of five… When he started kindergarten, his behaviour was already hyperactive and very disruptive meaning that he was only allowed to attend for one hour a day, if I went with him! In addition, his social skills were severely impaired; he had absolutely no interest in other children. An educational psychologist added to my stress and misery by rating his IQ as very low….
My sister who was already using the Edutherapy programme with my nephew. I could not really understand the science behind it but it seemed worth a try. That was 10 years ago and today, the story could not be more different…. To meet him, you would not know that anything was wrong. Socially, he knows that he still has more to learn, but believe me when I tell you he fits into groups very well now and has the ability to empathise and understand emotions and feelings. On the learning side, I could not be more pleased….Now he is in a sixth form college and fits well into his class. He is not at the top but I would say doing better than average. The results of this programme in our son’s case have been nothing short of amazing.”
Connor- Age 21
Before
“When Connor first started on the programme he could not read”….He struggled to make eye-contact and his speech was poor. He was disruptive and aggressive in class and had poor concentration”
After
“That Connor would one day go to university was never something that I had considered when we first received his diagnosis. . for him to receive an offer to study Creative Writing from his first choice university was mind-blowing! His first year results (at Uni) were better than we could have ever hoped”
“When Connor first started on the programme he could not read, had severe glue ear and his poor motor skills meant that letter formation was very difficult for him. He struggled to make eye-contact and his speech was poor. He was disruptive and aggressive in class and had poor concentration…
I knew that something major had changed when Connor’s new headmistress approached me and asked if it was possible for him to have singing lessons. Connor was six years old at this point and in a new, more supportive, school. The headmistress had been passing through the hallway and had been so entranced by his wonderful voice which was word and pitch perfect. Connor continued to have singing lessons and passed his Grade 8 a few years ago with distinction….
I had always dreaded Connor’s Parents’ Evenings because it always seemed that the teachers would save things up and then ambush you. This particular evening, every single teacher had positive things to say about Connor and how much they adored teaching him….
I remember sitting in a school hall watching a school prize-giving shortly after Connor had been diagnosed and feeling so broken-hearted that I would never see my son winning any plaudits or prizes. How wrong could I be? Shortly before Connor left school for the final time… the head phoned me to ask if it would be okay to mention Connor in his Prize Day speech. My overriding memory of the day was that the headmaster said that ‘Connor radiates an essential goodness and an integrity which is inspiring’ and that ‘he has had a truly great beginning’ and that he suspected that Connor had given them far more than they had given him.
That Connor would one day go to university was never something that I had considered when we first received his diagnosis so for him to receive an offer to study Creative Writing from his first choice university was mind-blowing! ….His first year results were better than we could have ever hoped which filled him with a massive amount of confidence….
Fast forward to today, Connor is approaching his 21st birthday and is in his second year. He loves his course and still has a passion for History… He is still singing and acting in the university musical theatre society and is maturing into an independent young man with his own opinions and hopefully, a bright career ahead of him.”
Simon – Age 11
Before
At age 5 . .Simon was given a diagnosis of “Atypical Autism”…there was a question mark over whether he could attend a regular school. It seemed that there was little hope for our son. He additionally suffered from a variety of food sensitivities and asthma”
After
“To date the results have been impressive . .Our son is now 11 and attends a regular school. .His marks are above average . .his understanding of social and emotional issues has come on in leaps and bounds. . . He hardly has to use his asthma medicine and his food sensitivities have gone. .When I think that my son might have been consigned to a special needs school a few years ago and now is enjoying a normal education, I feel so grateful to Jane and the Edutherapy programme. A big thank to you from the bottom of our hearts!”
“At age 5, after evaluation Simon was given a diagnosis of “Atypical Autism” and it took us a further 2 years to hear about the Edutherapy programme. At the beginning there was a question mark over whether he could attend a regular school. He additionally suffered from a variety of food sensitivities and asthma….It seemed that there was little hope for our son…To date the results have been impressive. Our son is now 11 and attends a regular school. His marks are above average for languages and maths, he still struggles with creative and unstructured tasks but even that is improving. He has a good sense or right and wrong, is very loving and his understanding of social and emotional issues has come on in leaps and bounds.
He hardly has to use his asthma medicine and his food sensitivities have gone.
Hyperactivity is a thing of the past; he is quiet, calm and diligent at school. Socially things are not yet perfect but much better than before.
His gross and fine motor skills have really improved demonstrated in things like writing, playing tennis and golf.
What has been great is that even when things looked far from sure Jane supported us to see a positive future and this belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I like the fact that if I have any doubts, problems or questions, I can always turn to Jane and she helps either by running a special programme for our son or by giving me sound advice.
I will certainly stay with this programme for the next few years. When I think that my son might have been consigned to a special needs school a few years ago and now is enjoying a normal education, I feel so grateful to Jane and the Edutherapy programme. A big thank to you from the bottom of our hearts!”
Liam – Age 14
Before
- Liam had an autism diagnosis
- He attended a special school
After
“ In general, we have noticed more calming and less stimmy behaviour . .His sleep has been fantastic”
“Liam has been doing pretty well over the past months! In general, we have noticed more calming and less stimmy behaviour (although a little return recently). He just seems a little more content. Also, it has been a great month or two with toileting issues. His sleep has been fantastic lately.”
Noah – Age 9
Before
- Diagnosis of autism
- Limited speech
- Major issues with motor control
After
“Noah has made good progress in the last few weeks . .a huge improvement in understanding . .much more vocabulary now . .His gross-motor skills are developing and he is better at dressing himself.”
“Noah has made good progress in the last few weeks. His receptive language is improving, with a huge improvement in understanding, and he has much more vocabulary now. He has said single words every now and again in context. His gross-motor skills are developing and he is better at dressing himself. It may take a while, but he will work at it until he succeeds.”