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Welcome to Judy’s World! Part 2


In all your life have you ever been sorry you did the right thing?


Don’t put off creating a life care plan any longer. Take the time now and give yourself the comfort of being prepared for the financial future of yourself and your loved ones.


If you missed part one of Judy’s series about raising two Autistic sons, click here to read now.


Life became even more Nick Carrocio


Special Care Planner MassMutual’s SpecialCareSM program Phone: 972-348-6368 ncarroccio@finsvcs.com nexusadvisorsllc.com 10000 N. Central Expwy., Ste. 1200 Dallas, TX 75231


Insurance products are issued by MassMutual, Springfield, MA 01111, and its subsidiaries, C.M. Life Insurance Co. and MML Bay State Life Insurance Co., Enfield, CT 06082. CRN201104-118795


complicated as I realized I would be raising two autistic children. I knew I was overwhelmed before and now with Ryan’s diagnosis, I couldn’t believe this was happening again. I went into high gear and was on a mission to find all help possible. Early intervention is critical and I knew with Ryan I had a much earlier start in getting him the help he needed. Jason was 4 ½ when he was diagnosed and Ryan was just over a year old. I was taking advantage of this and immediately enrolled him in an early childhood program through the county in which I lived. I had three specialists visit my home weekly including a speech therapist, occupational therapist and cognitive skills therapist.


While managing the long drive


to Jason’s school and coordinating the various home visits for Ryan, this was a daunting task. It all worked out but at the time, it was very stressful. It was paramount that I knew I was doing everything possible to ensure their growth.


Through the years, I’ve met parents who will not enroll their children in special needs schools or needed therapy. They didn’t want


26 North Texas Kids • July 2011 • www.NorthTexasKids.com


their kids to be perceived as different or they were in denial that a problem even existed. Some believed their children would just outgrow these behaviors and they were just a phase. Nothing could be further from the truth and it was painful for me to see this because I knew the importance of placing children in the best school and therapy. While I never claim to know exactly how another parent feels, I do understand the heartbreak when


you realize your child has to attend a different school than all of your friend’s kids. When the other kids are reaching those milestones and you don’t know if or when your child will. I was never a parent who was in denial and while I truly empathized with other parents, I was frustrated when the child suffered even more due to them not getting the help they needed. With Autism being a social communication disorder, it is very difficult for kids on the spectrum to maintain friendships. When we’re kids, we want to be accepted and try to fit in with our peers. When you have a child who is fascinated by the


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