What Is Autism JAM?

About Matt – a.k.a. Mattie Boy

When we think of Matt, we can’t help but smile. We think it’s incredible to see someone wake up each day as if it’s Christmas morning. That is Matt, Mr. “Happy Go Lucky”. Since the day he came home from the hospital, we have said that Matt is someone who will never have trouble in his life, because he strives harder than anyone does and is SO persistent in figuring things out. Matt is our computer whiz! Since he was 2, Matt could turn on the PC, work the computer mouse (both left clicking and right clicking), maximize windows, get to Internet Explorer, search through his favorites, and play any computer game. He can even close out of junk or spam on the web. He can work any TV, cable box, VCR, DVD player and will change movies without help. Alyssa and Jack have become dependent on Matt to push play for them and get to certain games on the computer for them. Matt is the social butterfly. He likes to play with kids all the time and finds pure joy in playing hard. He loves trains, and watching the wheels go around and will get a rush laying his head on the ground and having a train come right at him, moving at the very last minute.

Similar to Jack, Matt has sensory difficulty. He has defensiveness to things he touches on his hands and feet. When he walks on sand, wet grass or dirt, he is on his tippy toes. Matt runs around like the Tasmanian devil. When you least expect it, Matt will run charging at you and smack your butt or arm or leg, for pressure to his joints, and of course for fun.

In the last month, Matt has started saying so many words. He is using words so appropriately, and is a little parrot with all the words we are saying. He said his first sentence “I take a tub”, just this past month. It was pure joy to finally have him tell us something that we could understand. We waited three years to hear that!

Matt has therapists that work with him from Interactive Therapy Group (ITG). Nellie Coats, is his Speech Therapist. Jen Campanella is his Occupational Therapist. Shelly Evans is Matt’s Special Education teacher. Matt also thinks that Christy Coles, the Autism Team Leader for ITG is his new best friend and there to work with him. This team is amazing and it shows!