Katie’s Story 
In January of
2001, our 2 1/2 year old daughter, Katie, was diagnosed
with Autism. The six months following the initial
diagnosis were filled with many visits to various
specialists, all of which basically confirmed the same
diagnosis. Although we sought treatment within our
county and received basic therapies, we continued to be
confused and afraid for our daughter's future.
That first summer, we found a private speech
therapist and began speech appointments twice a week.
Once Katie turned 3, we were then turned over to our
school district for services. Initially, we were
hesitant to put our child in a therapeutic setting but
our speech therapist strongly encouraged us to get her
into a pre-school program for children with
disabilities. In time, many of Katie's basic
skills improved. She was able to make simple
verbal requests, but could not hold a conversation.
Her language was so minimal that other
children did not approach her.
Since the diagnosis, my husband
and I have taken Katie to various specialists who
claimed they could treat or cure her. She has
undergone allergy treatments, vaccine reviews, and a
therapy known as DMSA, which
removes heavy metals from the body. None of these
treatments proved effective. We continued to
search.
Then, in
March of this year, I had a conversation that changed my
life. I am an adoption consultant at an
international adoption agency in
Ohio
. I was at work that afternoon and was helping out
with our travel department, which was short-staffed that
particular day. I had called Tracy Pierce Woodall
and was giving her dates for her trip to
Russia
, where she would adopt a baby girl. Since I had
assisted
Tracy
through our agency's referral process, I was
already aware that on
September 11th, 2001
,
Tracy
's life had been forever changed. On that fateful
day in March of this year,
Tracy
shared with me her background in autism therapy and
ABA
. She told me she would be traveling home from
Russia
through
Romania
in order to visit her school. She also had started
a foundation, The Brent Woodall Foundation for
Exceptional Children.
I shared my daughter's story with
Tracy
and explained that
ABA
was not readily available in my community. She
then said the words that continue to astound me: Her
foundation was going to begin working with children in
the
United States
, and she would like to have Katie reviewed and possibly
accepted by the foundation for treatment.
Without
delay, we copied all of the documentation from the
school and obtained medical records. We videoed
Katie at her speech therapy sessions and in our home and
shipped off the tapes to
Tracy
. On the weekend of April 24-25, the Board of
Directors to the Foundation met and reviewed Katie's
paperwork and videos.
Tracy
e-mailed me on April 26th and told me that the
Foundation would like very much to offer Katie services!
We were delighted!
Tracy
explained that two therapists whom she had worked with
in
New York City
would come to our home in
Ohio
, evaluate Katie, and set up a program based on
Katie’s needs and abilities.
Jill Weynert
and Christine Lopez, ABA Specialists from
New York
and
ABA
consultants for the Brent Woodall Foundation for
Exceptional Children, arrived in
Cleveland
June 10th after a long work day.
I met them at the airport and took them to their
hotel. Their
enthusiasm was contagious and for the first time since I
found out my daughter had autism, I found myself
believing that my daughter really would be able to do
the things other children can do.
Jill and Christine arrived at our home early the
following day and began working with Katie immediately.
They assessed her skills and later in the day
began working with Katie using the
ABA
techniques. The
changes in Katie were immediate!
Many parents mark the major milestones in their
child’s life: when she first crawled, walked, said her
first word. For
the first time in her life, Katie was making a real
connection with people around her!
That was the biggest milestone!
Her smile brightened and she was responding to
questions and interacting.
That afternoon, she asked her twin brother to
play with her for the first time!
I just stood there and watched as the tears just
ran down my cheeks.
We realized that day that Katie’s potential was
limitless!
During that
weekend, the Woodall Foundation made arrangements for
Jill and Christine to work with my husband and me.
They reviewed the
ABA
approach and offered an outline to assist us.
The goal was to train us, the parents, to work
with Katie on a regular basis.
We were so excited and empowered by the knowledge
that we could truly make a difference in Katie’s life.
Jill and
Christine videoed Katie and kept data on her progress
during their
ABA
sessions with her. Once
they arrived home, they sent everything to Tracy Woodall
for her to review. After
receiving and reviewing everything,
Tracy
called me and told me the Foundation would like to bring
Katie and me to
New York City
in order to receive more intensive services!
Katie and I
arrived in NYC on June 26th.
While there, Katie received intensive daily
therapy with four ABA Specialists over a two week period
which included Jill and Christine and two other amazing
ABA
consultants. Within
the first few days, the changes in Katie were obvious.
She was interacting with her peers, responding to
requests and expressing so much joy!
While there, the ABA Specialists offered me so
much advice that when we left to come home, I was able
to continue the services.
Since our
arrival home from
New York
, we have begun making plans.
We are talking to our school district, new
schools, and
ABA
therapists in our area and reading and learning as much
as we can about this Autism and
ABA
. We know we
have a long road ahead of us, but we now know that Katie
is capable of so much more and that there are services
out there that can help make her mind whole.
The Brent Woodall Foundation and Tracy have
changed our lives. All
of the ABA Consultants have been true angels to my
daughter. We
know that without their assistance, we never would have
realized our daughter’s potential.
On September
11th, many lives were changed forever.
Tracy Woodall chose to take this horrible event
and in her beloved husband’s name, she would offer
families with Autistic children hope.
Sincerely,
Becky Lowe
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