Balian's Story
In June 2013 our son, Balian was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) by the team at
Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. It was definitely a period of uncertainty in our family's life...
but the amazing team at LPCH and Clinic helped us get through the uncertainty.
LPCH provided many services and resources that have a positive
impact on Balian's Autism journey. For that, we are truly grateful.
My husband and I understand that there is no cure for Autism, so we never even searched for one.
Instead, we focus on providing resources and activities to make our son's life enjoyable, with a goal
of raising a happy and healthy Autistic child. Often times as parents, we forget that we always have
"expectations" for our child to be someone special, and excel at what they do...
but these are the parent's expectations... not the child's.
We try to adapt and understand his world by studying the "Hanen Program - More Than Words"
provided by Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, so we can have a connection with our son...
which have a major positive impact in the way we interact and communicate with him.
We are also fortunate enough to have special classes and resources offered by the school district
and other state-funded programs in our area, which have helped us tremendously.
Balian is now 9 years old.
I'm very happy to say that our son is a very happy kid that always loves to smile
and makes us smile every day. His uniqueness and the way he sees things differently
have brought so much joy to our lives... and we would not want to change anything about him.
What our son and other people on the spectrum really need is
ACCEPTANCE, and Unconditional LOVE...
that's the only "CURE" for Autism!
Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. It was definitely a period of uncertainty in our family's life...
but the amazing team at LPCH and Clinic helped us get through the uncertainty.
LPCH provided many services and resources that have a positive
impact on Balian's Autism journey. For that, we are truly grateful.
My husband and I understand that there is no cure for Autism, so we never even searched for one.
Instead, we focus on providing resources and activities to make our son's life enjoyable, with a goal
of raising a happy and healthy Autistic child. Often times as parents, we forget that we always have
"expectations" for our child to be someone special, and excel at what they do...
but these are the parent's expectations... not the child's.
We try to adapt and understand his world by studying the "Hanen Program - More Than Words"
provided by Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, so we can have a connection with our son...
which have a major positive impact in the way we interact and communicate with him.
We are also fortunate enough to have special classes and resources offered by the school district
and other state-funded programs in our area, which have helped us tremendously.
Balian is now 9 years old.
I'm very happy to say that our son is a very happy kid that always loves to smile
and makes us smile every day. His uniqueness and the way he sees things differently
have brought so much joy to our lives... and we would not want to change anything about him.
What our son and other people on the spectrum really need is
ACCEPTANCE, and Unconditional LOVE...
that's the only "CURE" for Autism!
I am different, NOT less
- Temple Grandin