Graham L, age 3
Photograph by Emily Barnes (2022)
Graham is a sweet and animated little boy. He is adventurous, spirited, unique, and tenacious, with a smile that lights up a room and hugs as big as a bear’s.
Anywhere with water is where Graham wants to be: the pool, beach, or aquarium. He loves his family, including his twin sister, Annabelle, and his older sister, Natalie.
Above all other things, Graham adores marine animals. His mom says his passion could rival any marine scientist. He has taught his family more about this passion than they ever thought possible. He especially has an affection for dolphins, sharks, and whales. “We think this love will translate into advocacy for marine animals and the protection of the ocean,” his mom says. “Who knows, he may be the next Jacques Cousteau!”
Graham is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. He has received physical and occupational therapy since he was three months old and has added speech and ABA therapy along the way. Though he is still young and has a long way to go, especially because of the effect the pandemic has had on his development, his mom has seen a lot of improvement. She emphasizes that autism looks different for everyone and she is proud of Graham for being his own person.
Graham es un niño dulce y animado. Es aventurero, animoso, único y tenaz, con una sonrisa que ilumina una habitación y unos abrazos tan grandes como los de un oso.
Cualquier lugar con agua es donde Graham quiere estar: la piscina, la playa o el acuario. Adora a su familia, incluida su hermana gemela, Annabelle, y su hermana mayor, Natalie.
Por encima de todas las cosas, Graham adora los animales marinos. Su madre dice que su pasión podría rivalizar con la de cualquier científico marino. Ha enseñado a su familia más sobre esta pasión de lo que jamás pensaron. Le gustan especialmente los delfines, los tiburones y las ballenas. “Creemos que este amor se traducirá en la defensa de los animales marinos y la protección del océano”, dice su madre. “Quién sabe, puede ser el próximo Jacques Cousteau”.
A Graham se le ha diagnosticado un trastorno del espectro autista. Ha recibido terapia física y ocupacional desde los tres meses de edad y ha añadido terapia del habla y ABA a lo largo del camino. Aunque todavía es joven y le queda mucho camino por recorrer, sobre todo por el efecto que la pandemia ha tenido en su desarrollo, su madre ha visto muchas mejoras. Destaca que el autismo es diferente para cada persona y está orgullosa de Graham por ser su propia persona.
Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.