Autism Awareness Month - April 1

Throughout April we will be sharing a different story each day to help raise Autism Awareness and highlight how peoples' lives have been touched by Autism and Autism Queensland in different ways. 

The first story of the month is by Peta Hodgon, mother of Shannon (age 6)

Our Story

Life with Shannon has certainly been a challenge, she was diagnosed with autism in July of 2009. At that time she had limited communication abilities and the majority of her speech was a jumbled mess of conversation. She had a number of sensory issues which stoped her from normal interactions with her everyday environment. I was directed to our local Autism Queensland group and found them to be kind and considerate and very understanding of our situation. Shannon was enrolled into their Early Intervention Program, she attended the school for a period of 12 months and it shows. She is now going to mainstream school and is fitting in quite well.
Thanks to the Program and the lovely teachers and support staff, Shannon now has a larger vocabulary with more understanding of herself and others. Her interaction with her environment has improved in leaps and bounds, before Autism Queensland she outright refused to walk barefoot on grass, now she is happy to run around with little discomfort. I can not stress enough how helpful and important Early Intervention is for not just your child’s quality of life but your own to. Without the help and support from these wonderful people i know we wouldn’t be as far along as we are today in regards to her education and quality of life.

Thank you Autism Queensland! :)

Peta Hodgon
Mother of Shannon Hodgon (aged 6)