“EJ was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with Speech Impairment. We spent two years doing Occupational Therapy in Pasig, but despite our efforts, we still couldn’t see much progress. As parents, we felt lost. We loved our son deeply, but we honestly didn’t know how to help him.
Then there was Tamara. During our very first meeting, Teacher Ed told us that EJ’s first lesson would be sitting compliance. He warned us that EJ would cry, but said we had to let him go through the process. Then he confidently told us, “After one hour, you’ll leave this center with EJ knowing how to sit.”
Is that even possible? Can he really teach EJ to sit in just one hour? The session started. EJ cried. But then… I looked over and saw him sitting quietly beside Teacher Ed. He was still crying, but he stayed seated.
At that moment, tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. It was the first time I truly felt that someone understood EJ and knew how to reach him. Before we left that day, Teacher Ed said something I’ll never forget: “Don’t ever give up on EJ because he can do it.” Those words stayed with us.
Today, he can follow simple instructions and we can bring him to Jollibee, McDonald’s and church with minimal supervision.”
