Audio for the story.
April is Autism Acceptance Month. WNIJ talked to a Rockford couple who said music helped their son after his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
Some children show signs of being on the spectrum as early as 12 months old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alan and Charlotte Abanes say their son David was about 15 months old when they noticed a decline in his speaking.
“All of a sudden we had just a setback. We had his hearing tested at the time,” Charlotte said. “That was fine. So, we started speech therapy then. But we didn t have a diagnosis until he was probably [in] kindergarten.”
Listen to this article
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS â Braxton Lear is 5 years old and tall for his age. He runs â not walks â from his scooter, to the swing set, to the trampoline in his great-auntâs backyard in Caseyville, about 12 miles east of St. Louis.
Braxtonâs mom, Shannon Lear, asks him whatâs his name, how old is he, and whatâs her name. He answers.
âHe couldnât do that a year ago,â Lear said.
Braxton was diagnosed with autism around his third birthday. For the past year and a half, heâs been receiving autism behavioral therapy from the Hope Institute, which Lear said has completely changed his behavior and strengthened their bond.
Bill would free spending for autism treatment after legislative misfire
Megan Valley, Belleville News Democrat and Raymon Troncoso, Capitol News Illinois
April 20, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
Braxton Lear, 5, and his mother, Shannon Lear, play on a swing at a relative’s house in Caseyville.Derik Holtmann | Belleville News-Democrat
Braxton Lear is 5 years old and tall for his age. He runs he doesn’t walk from his scooter to the swing set to the trampoline in his great-aunt’s backyard in Caseyville.
Braxton’s mom, Shannon Lear, asks him what’s his name, how old is he, and what’s her name. He answers.
Megan Valley and Raymon Troncoso
Belleville News Democrat & Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Braxton Lear is 5 years old and tall for his age. He runs – not walks – from his scooter, to the swing set, to the trampoline in his great-aunt’s backyard in Caseyville, about 12 miles east of St. Louis.
Braxton’s mom, Shannon Lear, asks him what’s his name, how old is he, and what’s her name. He answers.
“He couldn’t do that a year ago,” Lear said.
Braxton was diagnosed with autism around his third birthday. For the past year and a half, he’s been receiving autism behavioral therapy from the Hope Institute, which Lear said has completely changed his behavior and strengthened their bond.