How This Works

Thanks for sharing and letting us have a glimpse into your life. This is a great way to raise awareness.
posted by Christy ~ Meet our Chris on 1/25/08 7:12: AM

Hi, I just wanted to thank you for this video. I'm only 16, but i have more interest than words can describe about nuerological dissorders. This really taught me so much about this disorder. Tomorrow im going to a fundraising activity in south new jersey for autism and I just can't wait to help. Thanks again for this great video :)
posted by Ryan Conlon on 10/06/07 6:48: PM

So much information! Good job! Keep up the good work of spreading awareness. You have a beautiful family!
posted by Grammy Pammy of "Our Boys, Our Purpose" on 9/02/07 3:13: PM

What an excellent video! Wow, it brings tears to my eyes! I want to use it for a training that I am giving for EI providers. Is there any way that you can email it to me? You tube won't met me save it to the computer. Thanks for your time.
posted by Danyelle on 7/31/07 2:30: PM

Michelle, I just got my highspeed internet today and couldn't wait to view it again (without the skipping and pausing). I learned something new about autism tonight. Thank you for sharing the video with me. Devan is such a sweet kid.
posted by Angie Lee on 5/26/07 9:09: PM

My step-son Jacob is autistic. Thank you for bringing facts not fears forth, to help the rest of us understand the world that autistic people experience.
posted by Anne on 5/23/07 6:29: AM

What an impressive video! I am going to share it with everyone I know. And although I don't think I will have to, I am going to ask them to share it with everyone they know.
posted by Donna on 5/22/07 7:43: AM

I am a speech therapist who works in a public school that has a program for children with autism. Thank you for all that you are doing!
posted by Lisa on 5/22/07 7:01: AM

What a moving video. Our hearts go out to you. Keep on informing people and hopefully one day we can find a cure for this often misunderstood condition and bring these beautiful children back. Prayers and God Bless!
posted by Deb Hoelscher on 5/22/07 6:06: AM

While visiting our our grandchildren over the holidays, we had the the pleasure of sharing New Years with Devan and his family. What a wonderful family! Hope we see you our next visit. Thank you for sharing.
posted by Carolan on 5/22/07 5:28: AM

GREAT video! Devan is a doll.. My daughter is Autistic and she is wonderful too! Bless you all!!! Michelle
posted by Michelle on 5/20/07 12:25: AM

As Devan's father I would like to thank everyone here for you support. It means the world to me. Thank you
posted by Lane on 5/18/07 12:50: PM

GREAT piece for a beautiful child and parents that obviously are his heros. Every day I see more reasons to maintain a positive and loving attitude; this wonderful bit of reality is one more step on my journey to be thankful for each and every moment of my life and to continually look for the inspiration and strength of people like you to give me just one more reason.
posted by Laura Livingston on 5/17/07 7:49: AM

GREAT piece for a beautiful child and parents that obviously are his heros. Every day I see more reasons to maintain a positive and loving attitude; this wonderful bit of reality is one more step on my journey to be thankful for each and every moment of my life and to continually look for the inspiration and strength of people like you to give me just one more reason.
posted by Laura Livingston on 5/17/07 7:49: AM

What a wonderful video! Your son is so handsome. It's great that's he's made so much progress. Early intervention is amazing... My three year old daughter Shelby said thirteen words at this time last year, and she now says more words than we could ever count. She's been involved in EI for nearly a year now, and it has made such a difference for her and our family. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. May Devin continue to improve!
posted by Sallie Snyder on 5/15/07 7:49: PM

Hey guys, What a trooper Devan is!!! That was an amazing video and really hit us hard. Our prayers are always with your family and we will have an extra special one for him tonight. Love Always, Uncle John & Aunt Lisa
posted by John & Lisa Lawser on 5/14/07 8:30: PM

Hi What a great video. I wish everyone knew about early intervention. I have a 13 year of daughter Kimmy who has mild autism and 15 year old son Brandon who has moderate autism. I got early intervention for them. Both stop talking around the age of 2. I knew something was wrong. I started taking my son to doctors. They did a sorts of test and found nothing. I took him to a developmental specialist she took one look at my son and labeled him as being autistic. With that label I was able to get services for him. I got him into speech therapy which helped some. But when I put him in early childhood special education through our school system at 3 years old. He jumped leaps and bounds. They thought he wasn't autistic. He learned to count say his abc's and knew his shapes and colors. But there is one warning I like to pass along to other parents. I made the mistake of listening to his teachers and putting him in summer school. I didn't know autistic kids can't handle change. The sudden change was too much for Brandon. Those 6 weeks took away all he had learn and then some. He went back to being a non verbal withdrawn child. He continued on in early childhood special ed for another year but there was little improvement. In kindergarten we put him in an inclusion class at his regular school. They had no training in working with autistic children. So his elementary school did very little for him. His jr high had trained teacher they have done a lot for him. We also put on Stratera which helped him a lot. When Kimmy stop talking red flags went up to I began taking her to doctors. They all told me there was no way she was autistic that she was only mimicing her brother. I said kids don't mimic not talking. Finally I got her speech therapy her speech improve some. She went into early childhood special ed and took off like her brother did. I wouldn't let them put her in summer school because I saw what it did to her brother. I worked with both of them in the summer. She improve more and more. Her teachers encourage me to to get her the autism label so Kimmy could get services, I did. Kimmy was tested and labeled with mild autism. She then went into an inclusion classes in kindergarten without a para even though her former special ed teacher said she needed one. Kimmy struggled to keep up. She had a peer model which helped her a lot. I fought for years to get them paras and the help they needed. They both finally got a para in 6th grade. Again her elementary did little for her but her jr high has done a lot. She has a para in all her classes. I can't stress enough to get early intervention. It helped both my children. You have to be your child's voice and fight for what they need. Don't give up your child needs you. If you have any questions about my kids email me at Amazing@ everestkc.com. Thanks Candice
posted by Candice on 5/14/07 11:24: AM

Devon looks cool,mabe we can play sometime? Henri Houlihan
posted by Houlihan on 5/14/07 9:26: AM

What a beautiful family, and a great video to present it! Devan is so very lucky to have such a loving caring family and extended support netork. Good luck in the future. Wishing you years of happiness, Cynthia (An early intervention specialist, and Kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn, NY)
posted by Cynthia on 5/13/07 4:39: PM

i see a beautiful baby boy with his beautiful family. i am so glad for the help you sought and able to get him back after almost loosing him. i have looked into this as my grandson who was almnot diagnoses with this finding the 90's baby shots were pumped up with mercury, many say caused the abundance of this disorder. praise this boy and his family which i see siblings lovingly helped this boy stay with them. this was lovingly put together, a great job presenting! God bless this family and all who suffer through. this beautiful boy is in good hands.
posted by gale white on 5/12/07 9:57: PM