Recovery Stories

Podcast: Bonnie Yates Talks With Autism Mom About Recovery

By Bonnie Yates, Esq

Bonnie Yates met M.A. and her son A.B. last April 2009 when she was traveling in the state of Washington.

At that time, A.B. was a 6 1/2 year old boy who had been in treatment for his diagnosis of autism since age 2 1/2. He appeared to be obviously autistic and “geeky” although verbal and quite high functioning. It was not apparent, however, that he would dramatically improve within a short time span.

When Bonnie returned to Washington in April 2010, she found that A.B. had changed dramatically and was becoming “indistinguishable” from a typical child of the same age. Only days away from giving birth to her second child, M.A. graciously agreed to talk with Bonnie about her son’s recovery. A.B. will complete his ABA program in September 2010.

The Subject of the Sibling

From the New York Times
February 9, 2010
The Subject of the Sibling
Susan Senator is a mother of three boys. The oldest Nat is severely autistic, Max is her quintessential middle child, and Ben, is her fiery youngest son. Her worry is for Max, he is preparing to leave home for college, did she provide [...]

Ordinary Families Doing Extraordinary Things

On Thursday, February 4, over 100 people gathered at a very special event to do just that. LA FEAT and the Law Offices of Bonnie Z. Yates co-sponsored a panel discussion featuring ten parents of children who, after intensive treatment over several years, have recovered from autism. The panelists generously shared their experience of emerging from the often bleak and fearful experience of an autism diagnosis, into the reality of a “normal” family life. I was fortunate to be among the audience as we were invited to look into lives of these families who are really so ordinary and yet have accomplished such extraordinary things.

Journal Search

By Bonnie Yates
Nick just called me from school to ask for help on a scholarship application. I told him that I was busy doing “work” and had to call him back. After I got off the phone, I felt guilty. Too busy to talk to my son who is away at school in a different [...]

UPDATED: From the Parents – Life Afterwards: Hope After Autism

Join us on Thursday, February 4th at 7:00pm for our parents panel:
“Life Afterwards: Hope After Autism”.
This will be a unique opportunity to hear from parents whose children have recovered from autism.
The panel discussion will have seven or more families whose children have completed ABA programs and are now living independently in their communities, in most [...]

Nick’s First Quarter at Evergreen

Recovery Stories are about children who have completed ABA programs and are now, as young adults, living independently in their communities, in most cases without anyone knowing that they once had an autism diagnosis.

We hope these recovery stories will offer a big infusion of hope to all families who are struggling to get their children well.

Autism: Life Afterwards

A long time ago, I was just starting out and having kids. I had 2 children within one year three hundred and fifty eight days and I was in awe of how unexpectedly wonderful it was to bear witness to the beginning of a new person.

I was thirty-four years old when my worst fears were confirmed. I remember leaving UCLA after hearing that my beloved, four-year-old blue-eyed boy had autism.

My boy! How could this happen to me when I was so in love with him?

And where had he gone anyway? The cute, cuddly wonderful baby had been replaced by someone unfamiliar who had strange interests, ritualistic behaviors, didn’t speak much and was frequently unhappy.

Ages 4-6 were the hell years where we started ABA therapy and I braced myself for the worst. What does it mean to have a child who will never grow up? As wonderful as babies are, one expects that they will naturally progress to the next stage.

Nick Goes to College

When our children get a diagnosis of autism, we should begin to plan for the possibility that they REALLY WILL go to college.

I wish I could open a fortune and find that it says “It will be easy for him.” Yet how can I expect that this will be easy when he has struggled so hard for everything that he has?

Graduation Night 2009: Nick’s Story

  
A history teacher named Andy Owens gives the congratulatory speech. He reminds the students that it was Mark Twain who said “I never let my schooling get in the way of my education.”
When Nick was four years old, Mrs. M took me on a tour of the Culver City Unified School District [...]