Our lives have changed so much from taking part in the Step Ahead Programme. My son Jude, just turned 3 years old, has severe autism and is non verbal.

He can now communicate a lot non verbally. He couldn’t at all before, he scored 0.01% commincation with HSE assessment. Now he is so much happier he can show me what he needs.

If he has a pain he can point to where he is hurt. He turns for his name now.  His behaviour has masively improved about 80% reduction in pinching and biting. His dressing skills have improved. He now sits at the table for his dinner and feeds himself.  He has learned a lot about self regulating and can pay more attention to tasks.

His receptive language has majorly improved he can now understand a lot more of what I say. He went from the first day of step ahead didn’t even look at the other kids to the last day where he sat with arm around another boy watching the iPad.

The parenting courses we received weekly have been invaluable. The knowledge I have about all different areas has helped me so much with doing things at home. Since finishing Step Ahead, using what we have learned through the programme, he can do the alphabet with magnets and he sits at the table for up to 15 minutes doing table top activities.

He is interacting so much more with his cousins.

He hated the touch of paint and playdough and sand before, he now sits and plays with all these things and enjoys it.

But most importantly, he is a happier child.