Sometimes perspective is interesting.

As part of the Grant we're applying for, I asked our program coordinator at Alpine to write us a letter.  Its amazing to me how much he's grown in their eyes in the time he's been there...


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October 12, 2011

To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing to recommend that Dominic be considered for an ACT grant to fund additional ABA services. His parents have been privately funding his services at the Alpine Autism Center since June 2009 (a cost of $2,300 a month).

When Dominic started services he was four years old. He engaged in a wide variety of inappropriate behaviors which greatly interfered with his ability to learn. He would not sit and attend to instruction for more than a few seconds at a time and his challenging behaviors occurred across a variety of settings and tasks. Dominic also had very limited language: receptively he could only identify around 25 objects and expressively said around five words. Furthermore, he exhibited delays in academic, social, motor, adaptive, and cognitive skills.  

We began implementing ABA programming for 15 hours a week during the school year and 35 hours a week for two months each summer. During the past two years, Dominic has made tremendous progress with his language, behaviors, and other skills. His inappropriate behaviors have decreased significantly and no longer have as great of an effect on his acquisition of skills. Additionally, he will now spontaneously request and label items and frequently uses 2 – 3 word sentences. His articulation was poor before and he was extremely difficult to understand, but he now speaks clearly enough to be understood by both familiar and unfamiliar adults and acquires new words each month. Dominic’s academic skills have improved dramatically as well, and he is now able to label body parts, colors, shapes, upper and lower case letters, some numbers, and can rote count to 10. Socially, Dominic has also made significant gains and will now engage with peers, make eye contact and direct simple requests at them.

Based on the progress Dominic has made in the past two years his parents want to continue his services for as long as possible. Their insurance only covers 60 visits a year and they are left to pay the remainder themselves. This grant would help ease their financial burden and allow Dominic to continue to grow and progress. Thank you for considering him.