At Fairfield DD, Early Intervention (EI) helps children from birth to age 2 build important skills while giving families the confidence and support they need along the way.
For Marjorie and her nearly 3-year-old son, Jaxon, that journey began just over a year ago with a goal of helping him communicate. At first, Jaxon was shy around his Developmental Specialist, Marla. Today, Marjorie says he runs to greet her every time she visits.
Since starting Early Intervention, Jaxon has made great progress. He has always made sounds, but now he uses them to communicate and connect with the people around him. Marjorie has also seen him become more comfortable with others.
"He is comfortable with more people now," she said. "He plays with family members, looks at books with us, and enjoys interacting. He never really wanted to do that before. It's been amazing, and I'm so thankful for Marla and the Early Intervention team."
One of the biggest changes Marjorie has noticed is Jaxon's eye contact and attention. She says he listens more and responds when she calls him, something that didn't happen before.
"It was hard because he wouldn't look at me, and I didn't feel like he was really listening," Marjorie said. "Now he listens more, and when I call for him, he comes running out of his room."
As Jaxon continues to grow, Marjorie is excited to see him communicate in whatever way works best for him.
"I'm looking forward to him talking or using sign language; however, he learns to communicate," she said. "I just want him to be able to tell us what he wants and have the same opportunities as other kids."
Marjorie says the coaching and simple ideas she has learned from Marla and the Early Intervention team have made a big difference. They have given her the confidence to support Jaxon's growth at home every day.
"It's amazing," she said. "I feel like eventually he can do the things we hope for. He has opened up so much. He used to be in his own little world, and now he is so vibrant."
For Marjorie, Jaxon's progress is more than a list of milestones. It is a glimpse of the bright future ahead.
“Just because he is autistic doesn’t mean he can’t do things other kids can do, he just needs some extra help,” She laughed and recalled a recent moment between the two. “He is super smart; he knows when he is not supposed to do something.”
As the interview ended, we asked Majorie if she had any advice for parents to begin their journey with Fairfield DD, and she emphasized the importance of speaking up.
“Open up and ask all the questions you can. Be open to all the help you can,” she suggested. “Marla has been so great and when she asks if I have any questions there is nothing you can’t ask. Try to get help for them as early as you can. I appreciate everything Fairfield DD has done.”