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Description

My name is Daniel and I am 10 years old. When I was 2 weeks old I needed an operation on my stomach. Then I got allergies and infections. When I was 18 months old a really bad gastric bug made biochemical things go wrong and affected the way my brain developed. Doctors told my parents that I have Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have had lots of therapies – behavioural, educational, occupational, physical etc – and these have all been helpful. I couldn’t talk at all until my parents started giving me some nutritional supplements to correct some of the wrong biochemistry in my body. Now I am able to say enough words to let people know what my needs are. Although I still get very anxious, I am getting better at processing all the information coming in through my senses. I am also slowly learning to dress myself and go to the toilet and do some of the things other kids can do.

My speech therapist has always believed that I understood what I heard and that I had taught myself to read when I was about 3 years old. Then 3 years ago she taught Mum and Dad how to communicate with me, helping me to type with one finger. The world of communication opened up!! With Mum’s help I can now do schoolwork at my age level and can type out some poems that I’ve composed.

During the last year I have had some special Sound or Listening Therapy at a centre in Melbourne, and a few new nutritional supplements. These have helped me so much. I can now say my words clearer so people can understand me better and I can understand what people say to me more easily. Last year I had trouble with the simplest puzzles, and didn't have any idea how to do jigsaw puzzles - now I can do 25 piece jigsaw puzzles without any help! I'm really proud of my new skills.

Over the last 9 years my Dad has been quite unwell and has not always been able to work to earn enough money to pay for my therapies and supplements. I am so thankful for the wonderful people who have helped us financially so that I could still have therapy and supplements that help me improve each day.

My Dreams:

I dream of being able to do what most boys my age can do – have conversations with others; be independent; enjoy friendships; study what I am interested in; play computer games. I love numbers and maths, and one day, when I grow up, I'd like to be a maths teacher.

To work toward these dreams I will need to continue with my supplements, have more therapy. One type of therapy Mum and Dad want to do for me is called “Relationship Development Intervention” that can teach me how to have relationships with other people. Another therapy they would like to give me is called "Neurotherapy" which helps me have better thinking