CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The month of April welcomes a lot into the spring season. Among the list, it also recognizes autism awareness.
According to Autism Speaks, one-in-36 children in the United States have autism. For adults, that number is one in 45.
Here at home, that 'awareness,' means visiting with the local resources that support families or individuals with autism, one of which has been serving the Coastal Bend since 2008, and transforming lives ever since.
The building that houses Therapy Connections of South Texas resembles a home, and it's fitting that it feels that way once you walk through its doors.
After several years of working in the music industry in Nashville, Tennessee, Robin Blue discovered music therapy, which then led her to working with children with autism.
"It's kinda like the Pied Piper of helping," Blue said. "Music was my initial key in and then along with behavior analysis of really finding a way to really help and connect with these kiddos."
Applying what she learned in her schooling, she came back to Texas and in 2008 opened Therapy Connections of South Texas as the owner and clinical director.
The building is equipped with various rooms that are geared toward education, nurturing, play, growth, and of course, music.
Blue explained that there are various avenues and tools that work differently for each child. It's about finding what's the most reinforcing and engaging for each individual.
"Really pinpointing that individual child and just not necessarily the idea of the toolbox that it’s a one-size-fits-all," explained Blue. "These kiddos are so very smart, they just learn differently!"
Just like different tools and exercises are based on each individual child at Therapy Connections of South Texas, so is the approach to a diagnosis. Blue says, whether your child is a toddler, teen or older, the moment a parent decides intervention may be needed, is when they're making the right call.
"The earlier the intervention can happen, the better," Blue said. "From day one of being able to jump in there and walk with them through this journey – we work a lot with the parents, with the parent training, of how to address those behavior challenges."
One family very familiar with that call to action, are the Garza's of Falfurrias. Letty Garza is the proud mother of 8-year-old Ava Garza, who has autism.
Garza shared how, though autism is a spectrum and the symptoms do vary, that Ava was around two-years-old when she started noticing some signs that her little girl may have autism. Some of those signs included tippy-toeing as she walked, delayed speech, spinning in circles and often preferring to play alone than with her twin brother, Aiden.
"I was already familiar with autism," Garza said. "I am in the education field, I was a math teacher, which has now been put on hold. I bring Ava twice a week here."
Garza and her children commute to Corpus Christi from Falfurrias weekly for therapy. She shared that when she first started taking Ava, she had to use a tablet to talk.
"She did not speak, she used a communication device on her iPad and app to speak to she can have a little conversation," Garza said, as compared to now, her daughter is speaking freely, and often even leads her 'circle time' at her appointments.
Garza said seeing the leaps and bounds in just her daughter's confidence has been astounding and encourages other parents to be their child's strongest advocate.
"I know it can be tough," she said. "Nobody wants to put a disorder on a child, their own child, I get that. I understand that, but early intervention is the best intervention. That never limits their potential, like it’s never an excuse. Autism is not an excuse for her not to become what she can become. The potential is there… and it’s okay if you see the signs late. Her twin brother is 8 and just got diagnosed with it and that was hard on me. I remember I called them [Therapy Connections] in tears because, how did I miss it? But again, autism is so vast, but no matter when you catch it the point is you just catch it. And you do what they need to make them their best selves, that would be my advice."
Blue encourages that whether you are interested in setting an appointment or if you have any questions about additional resources that could help your child/student at home or at school, to contact them.
They can be reached at: 361-815-2433 and therapyconnections@att.net
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