Paul's Brain Balance Journey
Hi! My name is Paul and I am six years old. By the time I was two years old, my parents were concerned that I did not talk. They enrolled me into therapy so that I would learn how to talk, but I could not use my voice. I did not have an interest in learning sign language, so the therapist gave me an ACC (Assisted Communicative device); it is like a computer that talks for you. When I pushed the button that said “Go” for the first time and ran to the door, telling the therapist that is what the word meant, my Mom cried tears of joy. My Mom was happy that I understood what words were and what they meant. That was the first word that she heard me speak. At that time, I was three years old. I was in speech therapy for several years before I could use my voice, but I am still learning how to put big sentences together.
I can do lots of things. I can read books that are beyond my grade level, like a chemistry textbook and a book about the history of my town, which are my favorite. I also know the name of all the elevators I have been on—like a Thyssen Krupp elevator that goes very fast! I like numbers and can tell you every page number in the hymn book along with the composers name of the song. These are things that I am good at. However, there are lots of things I cannot do.
I struggled to ride a tricycle. I spent a long time in therapy learning how to ride a trike. I cannot tie my shoes, brush my teeth, or color. I also need help getting dressed and other simple things that you do not have a problem doing.
I am on the autism spectrum and my right brain hemisphere is weak, and does not let me tie my shoes or color with my sisters.
My parents found out about Brain Balance, a therapy program that will work with the right hemisphere of my brain and make it work like my left hemisphere. After a year of therapy, the doctor says that I will be able to tie my shoes, color, write, brush my teeth, and everything else that you do.
My family has already helped me so much, and I love them very much. Will you help me raise money to be able to go to the Brain Balance therapy sessions, too?
