Diagnosed with moderate autism about a year ago, the Kennebunk youngster has learned tools to help him when he gets upset and overwhelmed, such as squeezing his hands or taking deep breaths, say his parents, Traverse and Melanie Burnett. He’s also learned how to focus on putting together a jigsaw puzzle or play board games, typical things kids do that had been out of reach for Graham until recently.
As well as the one-on-one instruction he gets from his teacher, the center offers onsite speech and occupational therapy, eliminating the need to go to several locations for services.
Graham is doing so well, in fact, that he will attend the mainstream kindergarten program at Kennebunk Elementary School in the fall.
Graham’s success is the reason he, his big brother Hurst and his parents will all be at the Waban Telethon with other Waban families on Saturday at St. Ignatius Gym, 25 Riverside Ave., Sanford.
Sponsored annually by St. Therese of Lisieux parish, the telethon has been raising funds for Waban’s children’s programs for 45 years. This year, money raised through the telethon will be directed to Waban’s capital campaign for a new autism therapy wing.
According to Waban officials, one in 68 children is diagnosed with autism. As the effectiveness of Waban’s autism instruction has increased, so has the demand for services, said Executive Director Neal Meltzer.
The existing Fraser-Ford Child Development Center is operating at full capacity. A new, state-of-the-art autism therapy wing will provide 6,000 square feet of additional space with classrooms, consulting rooms and a large multipurpose space, Meltzer said.
Meanwhile, Graham is thriving, say his parents.
“He loves it here,” said Melanie Burnett last week, speaking in a library conference room at the child development center. “On weekends, he asks if he can go to play school. He loves to learn.”
A year ago, his parents said, that would not have happened. Autism for Graham means that he understands, for instance, that the toy in front of him is red, but concepts like “bad” or “sad” are more difficult to process, and he gets overwhelmed.
Traverse Burnett said that before Graham was diagnosed with autism, he and Melanie attempted to place him in other preschools. But that was not to be, and as it turns out, Fraser-Ford was the better choice.
“It wouldn’t have been good for him or for the other kids,” Traverse said.
Graham’s parents say that since he’s been learning at the child development center, they’re much more optimistic about his future. Goals set last March were met or exceeded in November, several months early.
“Without Waban, we wouldn’t understand how much potential he has,” said Traverse.
Graham is a smart little boy, said his parents.
“We have dreams for the future for him,” his mother said. “We no longer have no hope.”
Contributions to the telethon may be made between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday by calling 324-5344 or (877) 544-4275, or by accessing PayPal on Waban’s website, waban.org.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].
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