Local Autism Resources

I believe that every parent deserves access to the resources needed to help your child or loved one thrive. Whether you're looking for advice on how to navigate your child's diagnosis, or resources to help you better understand their needs, I understand that sometimes finding that information can be difficult. Not to mention, you don't know what you don't know.

In the beginning of our journey, there were a lot of support out there that we had no clue about. I thank God everyday for the helpful people He placed in our path that guided us to the many things we've been able to utilize for Liam.

As promised, I wanted to make sure I compiled a list of resources our family used to getting Liam the services and support he needed after his autism diagnosis.

On this list you'll find organizations that conduct evaluations, offer therapy services, and provide support programs to help your loved one with special needs.

Just this past Spring, we were able to find a program that offered a free introductory swim lesson for kids with special needs. We've found organizations willing to pay for summer camp. We've found programs that hosted events that were sensory friendly to cater to our little ones.

As a disclaimer, this list is exclusive to those locally in the Charleston, SC area.

However, with some research, I have found that most (if not all) regions offer assistance. You may find that some of the organizations below have branches in different regions or may be listed under a different name specifically to where you live. But hopefully, the items below will give you a push or some guidance to where you can begin searching.

As always, if you need any help or guidance, please feel free to contact me.

Evaluations/Early Interventions

Baby Net

Department of Disabilities & Special Needs (DDSN)

MUSC Developmental-Behavioral Services

Beautiful Gate Center

Bright Start

Child Find

Carolina Coast Behavioral Services

Services

Note: Most services require a referral from your pediatrician or a medical diagnosis to receive/begin services:

MUSC Physical & Occupational Therapy

MUSC Speech Therapy

Beautiful Gate Center: Speech, OT, ABA

Carolina Coast Behavioral Services: ABA

New Horizons: Speech, ABA

Palmetto Music Therapy

Charleston Music Therapy

Melody Music Therapy

Carolina Speech and Language Center-Summerville

Coastal Therapy Services

Happy Hearts Therapy: OT

Carolina Milestones: Speech, OT, PT

Kid In Development

Resources/Programs

Lowcountry Autism Foundation

Autism Society of South Carolina

Project Rex

SPARK

Clap Your Hands

Camp Rise Above

Be The Change

Just Bee

Sunny Sensory Shop

Grants/Funding

Social Security Administration Supplemental Income

Carolina Children’s Charity

Walk For Autism

Five Fish Foundation

Medicaid Insurance

TEFRA Insurance

Early Signs of Autism

Although my family knew what autism was, we really didn't know what to look for in those early years. Knowing what I know now about autism, the early signs were definitely there. But because Liam was capable of so many other things, we minimized those signs and believed he'd catch on with time. 

When I look back at younger videos of Liam, I now understand the behaviors we noticed or challenges that he had. I often times have to remind myself to extend grace for not knowing. I used to feel immense guilt for not getting Liam the help he needed sooner. I believe we assumed autism would look like what the media portrayed it to be. But unfortunately, that's just not true. 

The reason it is identified as autism spectrum disorder, is for that very reason...it is a spectrum. One person with autism doesn't look like the next person with autism. 

For Liam, medically speaking, he is considered "high-functioning". What this means is that he is capable of doing most things on his own and doesn't require as much assistance. But, it doesn't mean he doesn't need assistance and support at all. I believe there are several that fit this category and often times fly under the radar because to the naked eye, they wouldn't right away notice those areas of special needs. 

In this article, I plan to debunk a few of those by sharing some of the early signs we first noticed in Liam. 

Unique Play With Toys

Liam never quite played with toys in the way they were designed to be played with. He would either line them up in a very strategic order to his liking, or...he would fixate on just one aspect of that toy. If the toy made a noise or lit up when a certain button is pushed, he would only play with the toy for that very reason. 

In any attempt to get Liam to play with the toys outside of how he preferred to play with them, he was incredibly unhappy. 

1. Head Banging

Liam would rock his head to fall asleep each night. It was a gentle thud, but it was a tad out of the ordinary for his dad and I. We had never seen this before. Imagine hearing a constant thud over the baby monitor and to find your little one rocking their head up and down on their pillow until they finally fall asleep. 

We would attempt to stop him, but he would continue. When we presented this to his pediatrician we were told this was common for some young boys and he'd outgrow it. Liam wasn't hurting himself. This was actually his way of self-soothing. He doesn't do this as much anymore, but he resorts to this when he's having difficulty falling asleep. 

2. Repetitive Behaviors

It's common for children to engage in repetitious behaviors, but the frequency in which we observed Liam do this is what left us wondering if it was common. We later learned the term for this is called "stimming" or self stimulation. Whether he's bouncing, waving his hands, or simply doing the same movements with his body, it was how Liam expressed himself. 

3. Heightened Sensory Sensitivity

Liam was sensitive to noises, textures, and brightness. If we were in a grocery store and the music was too loud, Liam would cover his ears. If he even got the smallest wet spot on his T-Shirt, he would want it changed immediately. When Liam was younger, he hated public restrooms because they were too loud and too overstimulating for him. The sounds of the hand dryers and toilets flushing were much for him. 

4. Not Engaging Socially

Liam didn't have an interest in playing with the other kids. This could be because he struggled to communicate with them. But while most kids chased after one another and made up a game, Liam was often off to the side doing his own thing. If another child asked him to play, Liam struggled to grasp the concept of the game they were playing which eventually led to the other kids leaving him out. Liam socially wasn't aware of the kids' interest in him. He was perfectly content doing his own thing.

5. Delayed Speech

The biggest indicator that pushed us to getting Liam evaluated, was his speech delay. Although Liam was verbal he struggled to form his own thoughts. Most of his conversations were scripted or he'd repeat what was being said to him. This term is called echolalia. 

Liam was able to express his wants and needs, but any time he was asked a question or prompted to respond...he would just repeat whatever was being said to him. He'd also frequently repeat lines from his favorite TV shows or phrases he may had overheard throughout the day. 

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Although these early signs were indicators for us that Liam needed some assistance, there are several others that fall in line with children on the spectrum. If there is ever any uncertainty or doubt about your child's developmental milestones, it's best to speak with your pediatrician to assess if your child needs further evaluation. Early intervention gets ahead of the curve to provide your child or loved one with the support and resources they need. 

Music Therapy: What Is It?

The first time we were introduced to music therapy was shortly after Liam was diagnosed with autism. I had joined a ton of mommy groups on Facebook and someone shared an article that Lowcountry Autism Foundation was hosting a music therapy session for FREE. I had no clue what it was, but figured it would be great to get around a group of moms with children similar to Liam. 

My assumption, naturally, was that music would be involved. Hence the name...music therapy. But music therapy is much more than just playing instruments. 

Music therapy is a clinical form of intervention to accomplish an individualized goal by applying and incorporating therapeutic practices while playing music. It's different, but has been proven to be effective. This year would make two years that Liam has been in music therapy. 

The first group session we attended was with a group of ten other kids. I remember walking into the room, filling out a name tag for myself and Liam, and joining the other moms as we waited for the session to begin. I believe the moms could sense my nervousness and they warmly welcomed me into their conversations. 

One mom asked about Liam and how long since he was diagnosed. When I told her that he was diagnosed less than a month ago, she started throwing out a ton of things I had no clue about. 

I remember her asking have I registered with DDSN, or LAF, or if I got a case worker yet. I didn't know what any of those things were.  After Liam was diagnosed, we were just handed a brochure and sent on our way. No one really told us what to do next or what organizations to contact. I think I assumed someone would reach out and tell us what to do next. 

That poor mom had no clue that under the surface I was a hot mess. Truthfully, I was still processing and accepting Liam's autism diagnosis. I think her asking me all those questions and throwing out things that were completely foreign to me made me realize just how far behind we were in getting Liam the necessary resources he needed. 

Despite my hardest effort to fit in, smile, and nod...I began to break down and cry. 

I appreciate how supportive those moms were. If anyone understood what I was feeling at that time...they did. I didn't feel judged, embarrassed, or silly for crying. I actually felt like I could finally release the pent up anxiety I had been holding onto. 

Even though I was overwhelmed, I'm thankful of this woman for mentioning these things to me. As soon as I got home I was able to research them and see if we were eligible for any assistance. 

Liam's first music therapy session was as I expected. It was new for me and him so we observed more than participated. The instructor utilized a few instruments like cymbals and clackers to help the group introduce themselves. I remember Liam shaking his cymbals as he stated what his name was to the group. Or when they used the clackers to recite their ABCs. 

Liam has always been musically inclined from a very young age. I knew that I wanted to get him involved in music, but my main concern was finding an instructor that would understand his special needs. So, I signed him up for music therapy. 

With the help of a few scholarships and grants, we were awarded funding to pay for music therapy services. Unfortunately, music therapy isn't a clinical service that most health insurances are willing to cover. 

I am thankful to Palmetto Music Therapy for all of the work they've done with Liam these last couple of years. It has helped to build Liam's confidence socially. It has helped him incorporate math, reading, and writing with music. And also, it has helped him strengthen his fine motor skills. 

Liam's therapist took note to how talented he was and began teaching Liam to play different songs. Liam caught on quickly. Music therapy has allowed Liam the space achieve personal goals while also learning more about music too. Through music therapy he's learned to play the keyboard, ukulele, and xylophone. 

Music therapy may be a bit unorthodox, but consider it this way; we all have a unique way of learning and working towards a goal. For some, like Liam, music has been the way.

Welcome To Walks of Motherhood

Welcome to Walks of Motherhood. It's amazing that just over seven years ago, I created this platform to document my journey becoming a mom. At the time, I only shared my posts with close family members and friends; taking pictures of my growing belly and discussing my latest pregnancy symptoms. But within a few short months, I grew to love the connection I gained with other moms looking for community and connection.

Back then, I wasn't completely sure what direction I wanted to take with my blog. My life was much more complicated back during that time as I transitioned into my new role as a mother and wife. Slowly, my little blog began to fall further and further down my list of priorities until eventually it became this little thing I was no longer committing my time to.

I guess a part of me knew that at some point, I would dust it off and give it another try. But the perfectionist in me wanted to make sure that whenever I did...I did it right. I've learned a lot over the years. And my journey as a mom starting seven years ago looks completely different now. Although I'm still that same mom just winging this thing and figuring it out as I go, I have some experiences under my belt that's molded my perspective of motherhood.

My purpose for relaunching "Walks of Motherhood" is because of my son, Liam.

When he was four-years-old, he was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Now that I think about it, shortly after his diagnosis is when the focus to my blog started to drift away. Making sure he had all the support and assistance he needed became my focal point and top priority. That time frame was overwhelming and a lot to process. And truthfully, I wasn't ready to share with the world our journey when we were so vulnerable.

Because, let's be honest, the world can be cruel and unkind when they don't understand something. And the last thing I wanted to do was expose my son to the judgment and harsh criticism of the world.

But now three years later post-diagnosis, I've learned there is so much the world doesn't know...and I've felt an urgency to be a resource.

Yes, the world has gotten better with accepting autism and bringing awareness. But, there's still some work to be done.

Here on "Walks of Motherhood" I plan to dive into what we've learned about autism and how we've been able to support our son. But also, I want for this platform to become a safe space for moms of all walks to share their story too.

I want for us all to be able to connect, to share, to learn, and to grow.  I want for us to be able to tell our stories. I want for us to engage in conversations that may be hard to discuss. I want for us all to say the things we often time are thinking. 

On this site, you'll find resources and advice that I've learned within my journey. As a disclaimer, I know I'm not perfect. Nor do I want to portray myself to be. Trust me when I say that I want to be as real as they come, because I genuinely believe that as moms it's what we need to see. THE REAL!

I'm looking forward to rebuilding this relationship with you all.