“Thank you both for all what you have done for us. Carlin is thriving working with Christine and Ali. We’d had a great year and look forward to even more milestones. Keep up the great work.â€
Sincerly,
MOTHER
“My name is Dawn Hieronymus and I am writing on behalf of my son, Carlin. Carlin was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two and a half. He is now five and a half.
For the past three years, Medicaid has been providing Carlin with much needed speech and occupational therapies. He was at one time non-verbal. He could not tell me that he needed a drink, to be changed, or he needed a hug. Thanks to the wonderful therapists he sees now. Carlin can say his first name, recite and write the alphabets, and count to 30. He is learning how to read, knows his colors and shapes and can make simple requests for food or drink. Nopne of this would have been possible without the services of his therapists and Medicaid.
Although these may seem like minor accomplishments, these are hug milestones for him. His quality of life has improved greatly since starting his therapy…â€
Sincerly,
DAWN HIERONYMUS
“My son, Jacob is almost 6 years old and receives Medicaid as part of the CAP/MRDD. This program has been a life saver for our family. Jacob’s brain is not developing as it should and although he is at age 5, he acts like age 2. Jacob has been in therapy  since birth. The progress he has made is unbelievable, but slow. Jacob needs consistency and patience to make progress. I am sure many of you have children and know the joy of seeing their first. whether it is the first walk, words, foods ect. Jacob walked by himself at age 5. I still marvel when I see him trying to run to greet me. The process of getting him to the point that he could walk took time, patience and expertise of his physical therapist. She weekly gave us activities to work on to strengthen Jacob’s body so that he would be able to walk one day. When Jacob got very sick and went backwards, she helped us pick up the pieces and move forward once again.
I have so many stories about the work Jacob’s therapists are doing with him and I would love to answer your questions about the importance of this service, but I know your time is short. Weekly therapy has allowed the therapist, with their knowledge to get to know my son so they could develop a plan and adjust it weekly to assist my son in becoming as independent as possible. Isn’t this the goal of every parent? I just happen to have a child who needs the services of an OT, a PT, and a Speech Therapist in order to meet these goals. The therapists work with me and my son to help me teach him. The progress he has made with their knowledge and support has given me hope that one day he will be able to do many of the things that we take for granted, by himself….â€
KAREN FLYNN-DEVORE
Mother
“My grand-daughter Alysa came to live with me a few days after this past Christmas. We were strangers. Alysa could not speak well enough or often enough to let anyone know what she wanted. She had been removed from her parent’s home do to neglect. Alysa litterally screamed all day, every day, throwing herself against the walls and the floors. flailing her arms and throwing things. One of the first things she was evaluated for was speech. She doesn’t scream anymore. She talks. A lot! She uses full sentences and she can tell me if she is hungry, wet, has “pooped,†wants milk or can’t find her toy. In short, she is a completely different child. Less angry, less afraid and much more able to recover from the first 2 years of her life. Alysa turned 3 yesterday. DSS has recommended that my husband and I assume custody. Now we are looking forward to it. Before Alysa learned to express herself, I’m not sure we could have been willing…â€
JAN NORRIS