Dylan and Jonathan G - Family Connection of South Carolina

Dylan and Jonathan G, ages 7 and 9

Photograph by Carolina Mascarin (2022)

Dylan has a unique charisma which keeps his family laughing. He hugs, helps, and gives much love to all family members. He is a mischievous child with superior intelligence who speaks, reads, and understands two languages and may be working on a third.

Dylan has a diagnosis of autism and ADHD. He developed speech late, but once he started talking, he never stopped. He is fascinated by cars and can name all the brands. He loves collecting car logos, eating pepperoni, and swimming.
A mature and responsible boy, Dylan helps his mom

with many household chores. His mom, Yolanda sees a promising future for her son.

Jonathan loves to play on his tablet and eat spaghetti. He likes to go anywhere with water. His mom is very proud of him for going to school happy, always meeting goals, and advancing in grades.

Although Jonathan is nonverbal, he radiates peace and a love of life with his smile. In his nine years he has overcome many challenges with his diagnoses of autism and Phelan-McDermid syndrome—a rare genetic condition which causes developmental and speech delays, behavioral problems, and a weakened or ability to feel pain or sweat. He has met milestones his doctors said he never would, including walking. Today, he loves to walk, run, and jump!

Yolanda would like the world to understand that her sons and other children with disabilities want what we all want: to be accepted and to be happy. “I want to teach the world that children with disabilities or different abilities are beings of light, who come to this world to make it more interesting and more fun.”

Dylan tiene un carisma único lo cual mantiene a la familia siempre riendo. El abraza, ayuda y da mucho amor a todos los miembros de su familia. Él es un niño travieso con una inteligencia superior y quien habla, lee y entiende dos lenguajes mientras trabaja en el tercero.

Dylan tiene diagnóstico de autismo y ADHD. El desarrollo su habla tarde, pero una vez empezó a hablar, nunca dejo de hacerlo. Él vive fascinado por los carros y sabe nombrar todas las marcas. Le encanta coleccionar los logos de los carros, comer pepperoni y nadar.

Como chico responsable y maduro, Dylan ayuda a su mama con muchas tareas en el hogar. Su madre, Yolanda ve un futuro muy prometedor para él.
A Jonathan le encanta jugar en su tableta y comer espagueti. A él le encantan todos lugares donde hay agua. Su madre es muy orgullosa porque él siempre va a la escuela feliz, porque el siempre alcanza sus metas y avanza en sus clases.

Aunque Jonathan no es verbal, el irradia paz y amor por la vida a través de su sonrisa. En sus nueve años de vida, él ha sobrepasado muchos desafíos debido a su diagnóstico de autismo y síndrome de Phelan-McDermid – una rara condición genética que causa demoras en el desarrollo y en el habla, problemas de comportamiento y una débil habilidad para sentir dolor o sudoración. Él ha cumplido etapas de desarrollo que sus doctores nunca pensaron que lograría como caminar. ¡Hoy en día, a él le encanta caminar, correr, saltar!

A Yolanda le gustaría que el mundo entendiera que sus hijos y otros niños con discapacidades quieren todo lo que nosotros queremos: ser aceptados y ser felices. “Yo quiero enseñarle al mundo que niños con discapacidades o capacidades diferentes son seres de luz, quienes vivieron a este mundo a hacerlo más interesante y divertido.”

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.