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My name is Carole Trisler and this is a letter I sent to the Autism Treatment Center in San Antonio a few years ago when my son, Asa Hart's graduation time came, and his funding arrangements changed. The story ends well, Asa is back with ATC and he has acted as if the banishment has been lifted. He is happy, thriving, and our family breathes easy again. Please understand that ATC helps not only the person with ASD, but the entire family. As I have told Ivy Zwicker often, ATC saved all of our lives.
Anyway, here is the letter: From: Carole Trisler Date: Wed, 30 May 2012 21:03:16 -0500 To: Subject: personal letter |
Dear Ivy, Denise, Sam, Derrick, Melissa, Karla, Cynthia, and those whose names I cannot list because it is so overwhelming—
I am trying to write this without getting all weepy. Not too much luck there but let’s see how far I get.
I remember when Asa was first accepted to ATC for the day program. We were sitting in a room, reviewing the initial results from Asa’s trial period. Alonzo was giving his report and he of course had been tracking behaviors. Asa did this so many times, did that, there were incidents of the other….(pause)…
I was thinking the whole time; dammit he is going to flunk! They are not going to accept him. What do we do now?
Then I heard him say those fateful words (paraphrasing after so many years) “Does Asa have behaviors? Yes, but all of our clients have behaviors, so we would like to have him in our program.” And he was IN!!!
From that day, Asa was on track to improvement. Was it overnight? No. Easy? Surely not. And when he moved up to residential care, well, that almost broke my heart. Because I had to let go of him to an extent, allow him to be the start on the road to a FUTURE.
I always appreciated those calls. Seeing the number on caller id always stole a breath from me, but usually it was someone saying "Asa's fine. We need (whatever it was)." The lead-in showed that you know how anxious parents can be.
I hope that y’all understand just what ATC and your talents mean to the rest of us who are affected by the success you bring to your clients. ATC gave my family back their lives, helped us realize that there is something for Asa to grow into and he will HAVE A LIFE. And so will we.
This letter is short compared to the emotion and gratitude running through my heart right now.
If ever, and I mean EVER, you need a parent comment, or an advocate or a volunteer, I am here for you.
We have to part now because that is just how the world works right now. But you are all in my heart, you are all my heroes and I will miss the teamwork and camaraderie we have shared while on this part of the Asa’s journey. God bless you all and remember us.
Sincerely (truly),
Carole Anne Trisler
Aka Asa’s Mom
I am trying to write this without getting all weepy. Not too much luck there but let’s see how far I get.
I remember when Asa was first accepted to ATC for the day program. We were sitting in a room, reviewing the initial results from Asa’s trial period. Alonzo was giving his report and he of course had been tracking behaviors. Asa did this so many times, did that, there were incidents of the other….(pause)…
I was thinking the whole time; dammit he is going to flunk! They are not going to accept him. What do we do now?
Then I heard him say those fateful words (paraphrasing after so many years) “Does Asa have behaviors? Yes, but all of our clients have behaviors, so we would like to have him in our program.” And he was IN!!!
From that day, Asa was on track to improvement. Was it overnight? No. Easy? Surely not. And when he moved up to residential care, well, that almost broke my heart. Because I had to let go of him to an extent, allow him to be the start on the road to a FUTURE.
I always appreciated those calls. Seeing the number on caller id always stole a breath from me, but usually it was someone saying "Asa's fine. We need (whatever it was)." The lead-in showed that you know how anxious parents can be.
I hope that y’all understand just what ATC and your talents mean to the rest of us who are affected by the success you bring to your clients. ATC gave my family back their lives, helped us realize that there is something for Asa to grow into and he will HAVE A LIFE. And so will we.
This letter is short compared to the emotion and gratitude running through my heart right now.
If ever, and I mean EVER, you need a parent comment, or an advocate or a volunteer, I am here for you.
We have to part now because that is just how the world works right now. But you are all in my heart, you are all my heroes and I will miss the teamwork and camaraderie we have shared while on this part of the Asa’s journey. God bless you all and remember us.
Sincerely (truly),
Carole Anne Trisler
Aka Asa’s Mom
Thank you to the friends and family who contributed to Asa's Wall of Hope stone!
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Ruby Adams
Aimee Brown Jared Brown Lonna Clinch Marta Denney |
Aaron J. Helmle
Jeanne Flores Denise McDonald Josephne Ortiz Carole Trisler |