Jesus finds happiness and learning at Junior Blind.
With a smile that stretches from ear to ear, 11-year-old Jesus excitedly selects the red apple over the green one to have with his lunch. Visually impaired and diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Jesus did not always enjoy lunch time or going to school, but now that he attends Junior Blind's Special Education School, things are different.
"A couple of weeks after Jesus started at Junior Blind, my wife and I realized that we should have brought him here sooner," recalls his father, Jesus, Sr.
Before Jesus was enrolled at Junior Blind, he attended three different schools—all unable to meet the unique needs of a child with a visual impairment and autism. As a result, Jesus who is naturally affectionate and happy had become frustrated in the mornings and resisted getting on the school bus.
Tactile books help Jesus gain important pre-literacy skills.
It was then that his parents knew something needed to change. They remembered their introduction to Junior Blind a few years back, when they had not fully accepted the degree of Jesus' disabilities."
"We weren't being honest with ourselves," his father admits. "We hoped that our son's disabilities were not that bad."
At Junior Blind, Jesus receives the one-on-one care he needs to succeed. Today, Jesus has resumed his lovable personality and continues to learn how to better communicate. Among his many achievements, he now chooses his food for lunch and seldom acts out when he's upset.
"Junior Blind is experienced in working with children who have multiple diagnoses and I see the proof in my son's progress everyday," says Jesus, Sr. "Plus, you can tell that they really care. We haven't found the level of and attention my son gets at Junior Blind, anywhere else."
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