Easter Seals Disability Services

“Easter Seals changed our son’s life.” Easter Seals All Aboard! Preschool Will Schwarz

For Tina and Bill Schwarz, Easter Seals Maine has made a world of difference not only for their four-year-old son Will, but also for them as parents. When Will was two-years-old he was diagnosed with Autism and it has been a life changing journey for the Schwarz family. For the first two years of Will’s life, his mother Tina noticed several classic signs of a child with autism spectrum disorder. It began with sensory problems such as him not being able to eat or digest food properly, barely sleeping through the night, becoming overwhelmed very easily, and still not speaking by his second birthday.

Tina described this stage of Will’s life as him being “in his own world.” She explains that when he got overwhelmed he would run back and forth, start hand flapping, and screeching. Time after time, she was told that she just needed to be patient with Will’s development and perhaps he was just slightly delayed but Tina, a pediatric nurse, knew it was much more serious than that. After Will was officially diagnosed with Autism, the Schwarz’s explored many different options for therapy. The Easter Seals Maine All Aboard! Preschool immediately appealed to them because it was the only toddler program available for two year olds with Autism. “We have been so fortunate to have been able to be here. He loves it here and they all love him,” said Tina. “It is amazing how far he’s come.”

Will has been enrolled at All Aboard! Preschool for nearly two years and has gone from saying a few words to speaking fluently in full sentences. Tina and Bill are also thankful for how social their son has become as well. The key to Will’s success has been the teamwork between his family and his Easter Seals teachers and therapist. A consistent routine that transfers from the classroom to the home provides the structure that Will thrives on. And he continues to thrive!

“We came here not knowing what end of the Autism spectrum he was on, and now we are looking forward to him being mainstreamed into kindergarten next year,” says Tina. “Easter Seals has been a huge support for our family. The teachers are always in constant contact with us, and they have even kept journals for us to keep track of his progress. We are thrilled!”

Hannah Marston, Director of the All Aboard! Preschool in Portland, Maine has worked with Will for the last two years and describes him as a “very bright, sociable young boy who has such an eagerness to learn and is constantly seeking other children to play with.”

She notes that Will is the first child in the school’s history to work his way through all four classrooms, the fourth classroom serving the highest functioning children. This has been a tremendous accomplishment for Will, and he continues to make progress everyday in his classroom.

The Schwarz’s are most proud of the fact that Will has turned into such a loving young boy, and now says “I love you” - words they weren’t sure they would ever hear from their son. “Autism is a spectrum, it is not the end,” says Tina. “If your child has autism it does not mean there is nothing for them in the future. This whole experience has been a miracle for us! We are so lucky to have found Easter Seals!”

For more information on All Aboard! Preschool click here