Beneficiary Spotlight - Ben & Finlay Stevens
Cash for Kids fund more ABA therapy for two twin boys with severe autism and learning disabilities.
Remember Ben & Finlay Stevens? We funded ABA therapy for these twins in February this year.
We've received a bit of feedback from the family who have recently returned from their annual Skybound trip where the boys receive intensive ABA therapy for their autism and learning disabilities.
Before the boys started the therapy they had feeding difficulties, they could not communicate, couldn't go for simple walks outside, they could not perform any self-help or toileting skills and much, much more.
Since receiving the therapy the boys have come on tremendously.
Some of their progress is detailed below:
• They can now use a toilet independently
• They can attend doctors’ and dental appointments
• They are able to pack their own bag for going swimming or out for leisure activities
• They now eat a far wider range of foods (they've gone from four - now they eat in excess of fifty)
• Their speech has improved
• They have started to interact and play with people, not alone (especially their twin brother)
• They've learnt not to self-injure when stressed
• How to walk down a road safely (not crying and hitting head off the pavement)
• To sit still at a table to learn (pre ABA: less than 1 second; now: 10 minutes)
• To be able to go on family holidays
• To be able to walk longer distances without needing carried or asking to go home
• Being able to climb on a climbing frame
This is just a glimpse of the incredibly improvements they have been making in their day to day lives, the list goes on! I'm sure you'll agree these are things we take for granted, milestones we are used to seeing our kids go through. For the Stevens family things are so different.
Mike, their dad said:
"Without an ABA program, there is a good chance that the boys would now be in a full-time residential care establishment leaving two broken-hearted parents. We know we will care for the boys as long as we are able to but we need to ensure that when we are no longer around, they are able to have their needs and wants understood."
Mike and his family want to share their thanks to every one of you who have fund raised for us in the past. Your support has allowed these boys to flourish and work towards leading as independent a life as possible. You should all be incredibly proud.