NEWS
DECEMBER 2023
Cyrus & Harper posing with Santa.
"My son has never been able to fully enjoy an experience with Santa during the holiday season. Autism Treatment Center made our visit gentle, wait free, and soothing. This is the first year we were able to get him to actually sit for a picture. These are memories we will cherish." - Raegan Eaton, Cyrus and Harper's mom. ATC Dallas had a very special visit from Santa Claus! We were so excited when The Order of Alhambras volunteer group asked to host a Sensory-Friendly Photos with Santa day at our Dallas location this year.
The tradition began in 2022 when Rene` Flores Martinez was learning more about the Autism Treatment Center in San Antonio and felt inspired to get involved. Knowing that it can be difficult for families affected by autism to have the Santa experience in crowded malls, Rene gathered the Alhambras Caravan 269 to start the Sensory-Friendly Photos with Santa at ATC. His goal, "to bring happiness to as many children as I can. Seeing the smile on their faces, there's enough reward for me and I look forward each year to doing these events for them." It was such a wonderful experience for the families in San Antonio that they decided to take the show on the road. Santa Rene (as he is affectionately known by staff) hopped in his sleigh along with a crew of merry volunteers to decorate the Dallas Center, take photos, and hand out goody bags - all free to community families with children with autism. Of course, Santa also visited ATC San Antonio again this year - he's staying busy and delivering lots of smiles! 
Ian smiling with Santa.
"Having sensory-friendly activities like Santa available to individuals with autism or other special needs is very important. It helps special needs families enjoy new experiences, and to participate in social activities with their loved ones in an environment that is less overwhelming. This less stressful environment gives autistic individuals the opportunity to participate and learn how to be a part of activities they might normally avoid.
This was such a wonderful day for me to enjoy watching my son flourish. He was comfortable and calm as he made the rounds, visiting Santa and getting his picture taken, coloring, making a craft and just visiting with new people. It was wonderful how comfortable he was and we look forward to any future events." - Cynthia Hardy, Ian's mom NOVEMBER 2023
James Brown entered ATC’s education and residential programs in 2020, a few weeks before his 17th birthday. He had been referred by his East Texas school district because he frequently became violent or tried to escape his situation when anxious or upset. He didn’t like change, so moving to an ATC group home away from his family was especially hard at first. One of the things that helped him cope was his large collection of plush toys he carried in a laundry basket to and from school each day.
When James first arrived at ATC, his teachers and therapists focused on improving his communication skills and tolerance for transitioning from one place or task to another. Helping him communicate was critical because, while James had a large vocabulary, he didn’t know how to express his wants and needs. As his communication improved, so did his behaviors. Over time, his parents, Robert and Liz, noticed changes during their weekly video calls. “His smile returned and he was happy again most of the time,” Robert said. “We finally started seeing the James we loved to watch sing and dance.” This past spring, James’ education and residential staff worked together to create a plan to reduce his dependency on his plush toys to get through the school day. He experienced anxiety when they weren’t with him because he was afraid they would get lost, so the team worked with Robert and Liz to pick out a locking trunk that was also mobile enough for James to take on visits to his family. Instead of taking all his toys to school, he would pick a few, then lock the rest in the trunk and wear the key on a lanyard around his neck. In less than two weeks, James was going to school without any of his plush friends and able to focus on classwork knowing they were safe and waiting for him at home. It's wonderful to watch the individuals in our programs working on and making progress on reaching their goals! 
This year, we hosted ATC's first ever Trunk or Treat Fall Festival, but it certainly won't be our last! From decorated trunks to a pumpkin patch and a petting zoo (with a kangaroo!), the day was all treats and no tricks!
OCTOBER 2023
Jessica was diagnosed with autism when she was 4. Even with all her challenges, and two other daughters to care for, Kevin and Janet made sure Jessica had opportunities to engage in activities that interested her. She liked sports so they got her involved with Special Olympics. She was a great swimmer and, as she had no fear of heights, had no problem diving off the high board. It was actually at a Special Olympics event the family first met students from the Autism Treatment Center.
By the time Jessica started middle school, her parents realized the public school she attended couldn’t provide the supports or education she needed. “The school district where we live is way better than most schools and they tried hard, but it was just not a fit,” says Kevin. Her parents tried placing her in a private school for students with learning differences, but that didn’t work, either. “She was just too disruptive to the class sometimes.” Jessica’s behaviors at home were disruptive, too, and putting a strain on the whole family. The fit Jessica needed came when she was 13 and enrolled as a student at ATC where teachers and therapists had experience working with autism and challenging behaviors. This was especially important a few years later when she developed more aggressive and self-injurious behaviors. When she turned 18, Jessica went from being a day student to living in an ATC teaching home where she could get 24/7 supervision and support. Now 28, Jessica lives in an ATC adult group home and participates in the weekday Adult Services program. She likes shopping, going to restaurants, and spending time with her family, at home on the weekends and on their annual vacations. Jessica still has behaviors but not as often or as severe as in the past. Kevin credits her success to the love and support she receives from the staff. “ATC has been a good experience,” he says. “We appreciate the routine, warm environment, and sense of community Jessica has. There are not many options for adults with autism and ATC is providing such a critical service.”
For the past 36 years, proceeds from the Roundup for Autism have served to enhance and expand core programs for the children and adults served by ATC.
AUGUST 2023
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Christy Losoya first learned about the Autism Treatment Center in 2011 when she was asked by her boss’s boss, an ATC board member, to organize a Christmas party for the residents. She was actively involved with the Women of AT&T, so she engaged fellow members along with other coworkers and her family to donate a present for each resident and help out the day of the party. After the first party, Christy was hooked. She was especially touched when she met the adults. “Nobody thinks about children growing into adults with autism, so people don’t give to help them when they get older,” Christy shared. Over the past 12 years, Christy watched many of the children in the residential program grow into adults. “It has been even more rewarding,” Christy said, “to see how they benefit from ATC’s services and benefit over time. As Christy learned more about ATC programs and developed relationships with the residents and staff, she was inspired to become a monthly donor through her AT&T workplace giving program which matches her gift. When asked why she donates to ATC, Christy said, “I can’t imagine what it is like for parents of children with autism. It makes me feel good to know that what I do for ATC is multifaceted – it helps the individuals and their families.” JULY 2023
She was diagnosed with ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) when she was 20, but that didn’t explain all her challenges – difficulty connecting to others, long periods of depression, and severe anxiety around large groups of people. If these things were normal, she thought, then why wasn’t everyone else walking around on the verge of a mental breakdown?
Marcy became desperate for an answer. She tried therapy for two years, but that didn’t help. Learning more about ADHD didn’t help, either. “I felt like ADHD explained some things but did not paint a full picture of what I was feeling,” Marcy said. Her breakthrough came after reading an article by a woman with autism. The writer’s checklist of symptoms resonated with Marcy. She, too, thought in terms of black and white, had trouble processing language when overwhelmed, and experienced emotional meltdowns so intense she required days of isolation to recover. While a self-diagnosis of autism helped Marcy understand why she had social anxieties, it didn’t help her cope. Keep Reading Marcy's Story >> JUNE 2023
MAY 2023
This year was 23-year-old Elijah Giorgi’s (above left) first time to participate in Art for Autism. Elijah has been drawing since he was 3 and started painting about 6 years ago. His mother, Karen, signed Elijah up for Art for Autism as a learning experience and said, “The day of the show was amazing! Elijah interacted with people who were looking and talking about his work, something big for a young man with autism. I am thankful for the opportunity to stretch Elijah and help him earn his own money to achieve his dreams!”
Not every Art for Autism artist wants to sell their work – and that’s OK. Six-year-old Lily Moreno (above right) learned to draw from her grandfather. Although Lily didn’t want to sell her creations, she enjoyed sharing them with the people who stopped by her booth. “It was a great opportunity for Lily to socialize and talk about her art,” said her mother, Kathy. “The mother of one of the artists in the booth next to us actually works at Lily’s school, so we were able to make new friends and add to Lily’s support group. Lily enjoyed herself and is already looking forward to next year!” Art for Autism is hosted by the Autism Treatment Center and organized by a team of volunteers including partners from the Autism Society of Texas and Mindcolor Autism. The venue is donated by The Shops at La Cantera and other expenses are funded by support from local businesses and our event sponsors, KRW Lawyers and the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. Click here to see more photos and a list of all the Art for Autism sponsors and artists.
APRIL 2023
Meet Michael.
Michael used to live in one of our Dallas area group homes for students with autism. Recently, he moved into a Host Home where he lives with a family, but we still get to see him everyday. Before graduating from South Garland Highschool last year, Michael participated in a Job Readiness program through the Plano ISD to help define his work interest and skills. During that time he was given an opportunity to work in various jobs for 6 weeks at a time. Michael gained experience working at a hotel, a grocery store, a gym, and at another nonprofit sorting donations. We're pleased to say that the skills Michael gained led him back to our Dallas program. He now works part-time at the front desk answering the phone, sorting mail, delivering packages, and keeping our copy room stocked. Dr. Carolyn Garver, ATC Dallas Program Director, said, "He is very helpful and is always asking what he can do for me. He has been an asset to the program and will go out of his way to help." In addition to being a great help in the office, Michael is also known to spread a little joy in his free-time. When things are slow at the front desk he likes to draw various cartoon characters and will often gift his sketches to staff. Take a tour and you may spot a few hanging around the office.
MARCH 2023
Ian had a chance to step into his own acting role last Christmas to play Santa for the school’s holiday party where his mother, Danielle, works. “He was nervous at first,” says Danielle. “We encouraged him and told him how helpful it was that he was willing. Soon, he asked for his own suit.” Ian was a huge hit with the children and he enjoyed it so much that he dressed as Santa for several family gatherings, too.
Ian’s special interest in the theater is more than just a hobby for him. It is a way for him to give back and engage with others. As his mother says, “Ian is definitely the most fun part of our family. He keeps us on our toes with all of his great ideas.”
FEBRUARY 2023For Valentine's Day we decided to ask a few of our students and residents for their thoughts on love. Here's what they had to say
Alberto is an amazing asset to our team. We are excited to announce his promotion to San Antonio Educational Coordinator!
Alberto joined ATC San Antonio as a Certified Teacher in August 2022. Since then he has helped further our Education Program by utilizing his certification in Physical Education. Students now have individualized gym classes to help them use their energy in a proactive way. Alberto has excellent communication with not only the ATC team but the students' parents, making sure they are involved in their child’s daily activities and watching them achieve their goals. Alberto continues to learn more about our company daily and has shown tremendous work ethic along with helping out with further educating our Converse Fire Department. He collaborates easily with all departments, and is a great example of a team player. He even helped a parent at the clinic jump-start their car after a long tiring day! JANUARY 2023
We've all heard of the buddy system - pairing up to ensure everyone is safe and doing well. With this in mind, Jack Rykert, a San Antonio high school student at St. Mary's Hall, created The Buddy System Club. Inspired by his brother Luke, an ATC student, Jack created the club because he wanted his brother to have some new experiences that he might not have otherwise had the opportunity to encounter. The mission of The Buddy System is to foster a more empathetic, socially conscious, and selfless student body through community service for those with special needs in San Antonio.
We were so happy to welcome The Buddy System Club to ATC! The students dropped off donations of household essentials, art supplies, and games for our residents. The best part of their visit was the time spent doing activities and playing games with our students. It was a wonderful time of making new friends and sharing the day together! We love the mission of The Buddy System Club and look forward to seeing how they continue to inspire the community.  Ken Kellam and Officer Todd Gyure
Ken Kellam, Office Assistant at ATC's main office in Dallas, is sharing his knowledge and unique perspective with first responders. Most recently, he spoke at the Garland Police Department to educate officers on autism to help them understand what kind of behaviors they might encounter in the field and offer strategies on how to best deal with these behaviors.
When asked about why these talks are important Ken said, "I think it’s better that I do these presentations than someone else, because I always identify myself as a person on the spectrum, and that alone sometimes helps them put a face to Autism Spectrum Disorder. I once did a presentation for a department in another county, and one officer described it as “eye-opening.” They see that just because someone is on the spectrum, that doesn’t mean he can’t be verbal, and even social." Ken spent time with the officers answering questions and showing clips of TV shows as examples to discuss people on the spectrum and the issues they and their families may face. And, he's got jokes. After showing a clip of a child having a major meltdown he quipped, “That was me after the Cowboys lost.” We're proud of the work Ken is doing to create more understanding of autism in the community.
thought it was going to be about analyzing behavior like they do in the FBI. However, I soon learned about ABA therapy and how it can be used to modify behaviors. I loved it! As the class went on, I learned that UTSA and the Autism Treatment Center (ATC) were providing an opportunity to allow undergraduates like me the opportunity to participate in a paid internship using ABA therapy with kids diagnosed with autism. This was an amazing experience since I was able to see the effect that ABA therapy has in modifying behaviors and made many special connections. Every day was exciting because every kid is so unique, which means the therapy used is based on the individual child, rather than being based on what has worked in the past. There is not "one method fits all" approach.
After the internship, I did a competition called the "Roadrunner Showcase" at UTSA, where everyone gets to share an experience they have done and are judged on what they learned from it and their comprehension of what they did. I did mine on my experience of learning what ABA therapy is in the class and my internship at ATC. I ended up getting second place! That wasn't even the best part. When the event was over, a woman came up to me who told me she had a four-year-old son that was diagnosed with autism, and that my presentation meant so much to her. She thanked me for doing the experience and working with children with autism like her son. She also told me that ABA therapy is already changing both of their lives. We both got emotional and kept hugging each other. By the end of the conversation, I felt like I had known her forever. It's crazy how something like this can bring people together. This experience showed me that ABA therapy can change peoples' lives and that these kids are not defined by their disabilities. This was the first time I ever felt like I was truly doing something that makes a difference. I am planning on continuing to work in ABA after I graduate so that I continue to make a difference!" |
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